The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer award for ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram

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Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer award for ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K.V.Srinivasan

Honour: N.V.Subramanyam, retired additional general manager, Southern Railway, presents the Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Memorial Award to ghatam vidwan T.H.Vinayakram in Chennai on Monday. Trustee of Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust Maharajapuram Srinivasan (second from left), Narada Gana Sabha general secretary R.Krishnaswamy (right), and Va.Ve.Su., retired Principal of R.K.M.Vivekananda College are in the picture.

CHENNAI: T.H. Vinayakram has given a global platform for ghatam with his much-acclaimed international fusion performances, said senior Carnatic musicians, who hailed the music prowess of Mr. Vinayakram, at the presentation of ‘Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Memorial Award’ to him here on Monday.

Calling him the brainwave behind fusion music, Va.Ve.Su., the retired principal of R.K.M. Vivekananda College, said Mr. Vinayakram introduced the new genre of music along with Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain through their band Indian fusion band Shakthi.

An avid ghatam player right from childhood, Mr. Vinayakram has accompanied renowned musicians including Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Palakkad Mani Iyer, Maharajapuram Santhanam, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Lalgudi Jayaraman and M.S. Subbulakshmi, he said.

Narada Gana Sabha General Secretary R. Krishnaswamy said his music troupe Shakthi comprised celebrated musicians including John Mclaughlin (guitar) and L. Shankar (violin). The Grammy-award winner is a one-of-a-kind performer, who entertains audience with his unique way of rounding off the concerts.

Felicitating the awardees, N.V. Subramanyam, retired additional general manager, Southern Railway, said it was important to recognise the talents of senior musicians who are the inspirational force behind many budding musicians.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Vinayakram said recognition and rewards can go a long way in promoting and preserving the Carnatic lineage.

On his series of international tours, he said international performances exposed the musicians to various schools of music and they would get to learn the richness of each genre.

Six other musicians were honoured with various awards during the function. Singers Suguna Varadhachari and Manjula Sriram, Harmonium player S. Mahalingam and mridangam and ghatam player T.V. Vasan were conferred the Senior Musician’s award.

Youth Excellence awards were presented to violinists N.C. Madhav and B. Ananthakrishnan.

The awards were instituted by Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust, whose trustee Maharajapuram Srinivasan spoke.

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