Sangita Kalanidhi
Aruna Sairam
CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, 01/10/2018: Carnatic singer Aruna Sairam, during an interview with The Hindu, in Chennai on October 01, 2018. Photo: R. Ravindran
A disciple of T. Brinda, Aruna Sairam represents a long lineage of Thanjavur musicians. Born on October 30, 1952, to R. Sethuraman and Rajalakshmi in Tiruchi, Aruna’s exposure to music of all types has helped her evolve a unique style, which adapts to trends without compromising tradition. Initial training from mother Rajalakshmi was followed by tutelage under Brinda and later a string of mentors — S. Ramachandran, Chittoor Subramania Pillai, A.S. Mani, K.S. Narayanaswamy, T.R. Subrahmanyam and S.R.D. Vaidyanathan. Her repertoire is rich with music of all genres — the Trinity, Prabhandam, Tiruvachakam, Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer, Javali, Padam, Dasar Padam and Abhang. The last mentioned has found a permanent place in her presentations, with her setting a trend. Brought up in Mumbai, Aruna’s home was a veritable hub for great musicians of those days. The list would be long from Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar and Flute Mali to Madurai Mani and T. Balasaraswati. The ambience nurtured her talent and Aruna blossomed into an accomplished vocalist. With migration to Chennai, a new and fruitful chapter started in her musical career. Her well-researched concerts and pure music drew houseful audiences. Honours at the national level reached her. Global acclaim came as she performed at revered venues across the world, her collaborations applauded. A visiting lecturer at several universities, Aruna also contributes to welfare projects. Through her Nadayogam Trust, she helps underprivileged students get music education. Aruna is currently Vice-Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Sangita Kala Acharya
Dr. K. Omanakutty Amma
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-- 13/04/2012: (FOR METRO PLUS)------Vocalist Omanakutty..............Photo:S.Gopakumar
Hailing from a family of musicians spanning four generations, Omanakutty Amma pursued her music education at the academic level at the Swati Tirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G.N. Balasubramaniam and Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma were her mentors. She joined the Department of Music in Thiruvananthapuram’s Government College for Women and rose to become the head of the department. She has been performing from the age of 16, when she sang for All India Radio, for the past six decades. Her service continues as she conducts workshops, presents papers and mentors learners. She was Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts in several institutions such as the Mahatma Gandhi University and Kerala University. A much sought after guide for research aspirants, Omanakutty Amma has guided 15 Ph.D. scholars. An author of as many as nine books, Omanakutty Amma is engaged in popularising Malayalam songs of various composers. More than 50 awards have come her way in recognition of her lifelong service to music.
Sangita Kala Acharya
Thanjavur R. Ramadas
Chennai, 29/12/2009: 9.15 am: Tanjore Ramadas Mridangam at Music Academy on Tuesday. Photo: V. Ganesan.
Palghat Mani Iyer trained Thanjavur R. Ramadas in Gurukulam style. Initiated into mridangam by father Ramamurthy Iyer, Ramadas has accompanied leading musicians of two generations, including Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, D.K. Pattammal, D. K. Jayaraman and Sanjay Subrahmanyan. An ‘A Top Grade’ artiste of AIR, Ramadas has travelled extensively in India and abroad. He has been conferred several awards and titles, to name a few - Nada Laya Siromani, Laya Kalanidhi, Nadhakanal and Sangeetha Seva Nirata. He is the Astana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam and happens to be the first recipient of the Pazhani Subramanya Pillai Award given by The Music Academy.
TTK Award of Excellence
The Sembanarkovil legacy
The spotlight returns to the Sembanarkovil nagaswaram tradition with S.R.G. Rajanna chosen for the TTK Excellence Award. With elder brother Sambandam (left, in the picture) , Rajanna has presented numerous concerts, the duo excelling in Raktimelam and Mallari for which Sembanarkovil is famous for. The siblings, son of the illustrious Sembanarkovil Govindasamy Pillai, were trained by their father.
Asthana vidwans of Dharmapuram, Tirupanandal, Tiruvavaduturai Adeenams and Kanchi Sankara Math, the duo performed on invitation at several samasthanams. They spent a decade in Singapore as Asthana vidwans of the Mariamman temple and Srinivasa temple. They also toured Australia. The duo kept their music relevant without compromising tradition. The Rakti experts adapted themselves to jugalbandi and fusion. Their Vadyavrinda — playing nagaswaram in the company of tavil, mridangam, dholak, violin, morsing and flute — in Singapore earned them accolades. The lecture demonstration ‘Ragams Played on Different Occasions,’ for Max Mueller Bhavan was much appreicated.
Sambandam passed away in 2010. Rajanna, who is delighted with the recognition from Music Academy says, “Although my brother is no more with us, I cannot forget our long association. He was older to me by ten years and for that reason is like a guru to me. He took great care of me when I was a child and groomed me as his nagaswaram partner. We have been honoured by sabhas and ‘anna’ received many titles. It would only be appropriate for me to dedicate this award to him”, says an emotional Rajanna. In memory of father Govindasamy Pillai, a gold medal is awarded to the first rank holder at the Government College of Music.
The Sembanarkovil legacy continues with S.R.G.S. Vasanthakumar and S.R.G.S. Mohandoss presenting concerts. The latest entrant is grandson K. Parthasarathy, who is an up-and-coming mridangam artiste.
Musicologist Award
Prof. Dr. Premeela Gurumurthy
CHENNAI:05/07/2009:Shradhanjali to Padmabhushan Sangita Kalanidhi B.Rajam Iyer Music concert by Dr.Pramila Gurumurthi on Saturday at Raga Sudha Hall,Mylapore.Photo:B_Velankanni Raj
Premeela has the rare distinction of straddling two fields — performance and academics. A student of five Sangita Kalanidis - Mudicondan Venkatrama Iyer, T.K. Govinda Rao, B. Rajam Iyer, T.M. Thiagarajan and Dr. S. Ramanathan - Premeela was trained by several other veterans. A graduate of Queen Mary’s College (Music), she is skilled in both Carnatic and Hindustani streams. She is also an accomplished Harikatha artiste with a Ph.D. in the subject. At present the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University, she retired as the head of the department of Indian Music and the chairperson of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, Madras University. She holds a Master’s degree in both Philosophy and Indian music. A specialist in ancient Tamil music forms, she has presented papers in many seminars apart from lecture-demonstrations in leading sabhas. Author of several books, she did two major research projects for UGC, one of which was a documentation of over 75 rare varnams. Isai Kalai Selvar, Nada Kanal, Embar Vijayaraghavachari Award, Acharya Choodamani and Stri Ratna are some of the awards she has received.
