M.S. Pattabhiraman (90), former vice-president of the Music Academy, passed away on Thursday afternoon.
Apart from his involvement with Carnatic music promotion in the Music Academy, he was an active Rotarian and supporter of social and religious causes and Chairman of the Kedarampatti Swamy Trust in Kancheepuram.
He is survived by daughter Tara Murali and two sons, Ramesh Pattabhiraman and P. Vasanthkumar. The last rites and cremation were performed on Thursday evening at Mylapore.
Narada Gana Sabha secretary R. Krishnaswami recalled Mr. Pattabhiraman’s association with the Sabha in the 1960s. “He was a supporter of good causes and during his two terms as a committee member of the Narada Gana Sabha in our infant stages, he was very supportive,” he said.
Veena maestro and Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University E. Gayathri said that Mr. Pattabhiraman was a very fine gentleman and both Ms. Sulochna, his wife, and he were connoisseurs of music and art. “Though he held a very senior position in the Academy, he would not show it. I always regarded him in a special light,” she said.
Renowned Bharathanatyam artist and guru Sudharani Raghupathy recalled that Mr. Pattabhiraman was a great soul and loveable person.
“Inspite of his age, he would take the trouble to appreciate artists, including the very young ones. Usually people are very stingy with kind words, but he was a man who had a kind word for everyone,” she said.
