Profiles of Artistes, Composers, Musicologists
Unless otherwise specified, the profiles in this section are
from
The Garland, Another Garland, Yet Another Garland and The
Fragrant Garland by Mr.N.Rajagopalan
M.S.GOPALAKRISHNAN
- VIOLINIST.............(b. June 10, 1931)
One
of the top violinists of the day, M.S.Gopalakrishnan was born in a family
of violinists. Son of Parur Sundaram Ayyar and brother of M.S.Anantharaman(Sr.)
- both violinists - Gopalakrishnan is an eminent soloist, an accomplished
accompanist and an exponent of both Carnatic and Hindustani systems. The
legacy of drawing on the finer ingredients of Hindustani music was inherited
from his father and developed to the highest degree of fine art by him.
The happy shades and blend that he now and then presents are relished much
by music-lovers. He revels as a soloist and is a pleasing accompanist.
He is unsurpassed in playing tanam is exemplary in neravals - spacing and
phrasing. If the audience indicates a desire, he could satisfy them with
multi-sided, exhibitionistic play or chaste classical carnatic music. The
tonal effects he presents are enchanting. The wide variety of expressions
and capabilities of the violin are beautifully brought out by M.S.Gopalakrishnan
with irresistible appeal and emotional content to shade varying subtleties
and evocative nuances. His crisp play rarely indulges in laboured 'sancharas'.
One of the top violinists with international appeal.
Titles
:
Sangita
Kalanidhi by The Music Academy, Chennai
T.V.GOPALAKRISHNAN
- A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ARTISTE.............(b. June 11, 1932)
T.V.Gopalakrishnan
comes from a musical family and was born at Tirupunithurai. His father
T.G.Viswanatha Bhagavathar was a musician to Cochin Royalty and Professor
of Music, S.K.V.College, Trichur. A disciple of Palghat Anantarama Bhagavathar
and a versatile vocalist and instrumentalist, he shaped his son in his
impressible years to flower into a top artiste.
At
the age of four, Gopalakrishnan would play on mridangam and at the age
of nine, he had accompanied the renowned Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar
on mridangam. At the age of six, he had sufficient proficiency in the art
and ability to make his debut at the Cochin Palace before Lord and Lady
Linlithgow. Since 1949, he has been giving hundreds of concerts - vocal
or instrumental - on the AIR, in sabhas and elsewhere. A Bachelor of Commerce,
he entered the office of the Accountant General but music established its
sway over him so completely that he resigned his job and aligned himself
with music true to the family legacy to give expression to his own innate
talents. Has undergone training in music therapy and attended workshops,
etc., at San Francisco in 1985.
He
takes the credit for being the first vocalist who performed with equal
felicity both in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. His first Hindustani
concert was in 1969 at the Music Academy, Chennai. He is also the first
artiste who gives successful concerts as a vocalist, violinist and on mridangam
besides mastery in Hindustani system of music. He has mastered concert
techniques and could satisfy the pure classicist and the modernist. He
has excellent rapport with the musicians and the public. He has brought
a rich crop of disciples to prominence like K.J.Yesudoss, Illayaraja, Rajkumar
Bharati, etc. besides a number of others from abroad.
Compositions
:
Varnams,
Kritis, etc.
Titles
:
Sangita
Laya Samrat
Gana
Kala Bharati
Sangita
Vidya Ratna
Kerala
State Award, etc.
SRIRANGAM
GOPALARATNAM - VOCALIST.............(c. 1939 - March 16, 1993)
A
multi-faceted vocalist who enjoyed a melodius voice, Gopalaratnam distinguished
herself in the exposition of Kuchipudi, Yakshagana, Javali and Yenki Patalu
(a rare variety of Andhra). She had taken active part in the Bhakthi Ranjani
programmes of All India Radio. Had set to tune Annamacharya compositions.
She has held posts as Artiste, All India Radio, Principal-Government Music
College, Hyderabad, Professor & Dean - Telugu University (Faculty of
Music)
Gopalaratnam
enjoyed many 'firsts' to her credit such as -
a.
being honoured with the Presidential title 'Padma Sri'
b.
acting as Principal, Government College of Music & Dance, Hyderabad
and as professor and Dean of the Faculty of Music, Telugu University
c.
being made Asthana Vidushi, Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanams.
A
child prodigy, she gave Harikathas also. Daughter of Varadachari and Subhadramma,
she was born at Pushpagiri in Vizianagaram taluk and underwent training
in music under Kavirayaneri Joga Rao, a vainika and Dr. S. Pinakapani.
She came of a family belonging to Srirangam and had taken a diploma in
music in 1956.
Title
Madura
Gayaki
SEERKAZHI
Dr.S.GOVINDARAJAN - VOCALIST.............(1933 - March 24, 1988)
He
was a familiar figure for over three decades - with his bright face, smiling
countenance, well-marked, orthodox sacred ash on the forehead, well combed
hair and the appearance of a dignified modern gentleman with spiritualism
radiating from his honest face. He had a clear, resonant and sweet voice;
his rendering was chaste, traditional, sincere and well-phrased; his delivery
was thoughtful, thought-provoking, dedicated and emotional bringing out
the thoughts of the composer with conviction and effect and his rapport
with the audience was complete and total. The place that gave the canonised
Saint Tirugnanasambandar gave him too. His concerts were very well attended.
He was heard with rapt attention. His music percolated to the corners of
South India and outside through gramaphone discs, cassettes, AIR, Television,
films, etc. He was the first artiste to win the 'Golden Record' for the
record sales of his discs. He was perhaps the first to give concerts with
tamil songs alone. He was the first Indian artiste to be recorded by the
BBC. His special song to commemorate the royal wedding of Prince Charles
was recorded by the BBC.
He
won the 'Rajaji Tambura' for rendering the songs of Gopala Krishna Bharati
at the Tamil Isai Sangam, three gold medals from the Music Academy, Chennai
and gold medals from the Rasika Ranjani Sabha, etc. He was the favourite
disciple of Tiruppambaram Swaminatha Pillai, the renowned flautist. He
mastered the nuances, intricacies and subtleties and acquired a vast repertoire
and with his expressive voice and sruti fidelity, his music presented a
fine blend of the virtuous and the melodic.
He
was selected as the 'Best Play-back Singer' in 1971 by the TamilNadu Govt.;
and he had acted in 12 films. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts
and Head of the department of Music, Annamalai University. Was Hony.Principal,
Tamil Isai College of Music, Chennai.
Titles
:
Kalaimamani
by Tamilnadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram in 1975
Gambeera
Gana Mani by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankarachariar in 1977
Isai
Selvam by Muthamizh Peravai, Chennai in 1980
Miyan
Tansen Award by Dhrupad Society, New Delhi in 1980
Central
Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1980
State
Artiste of TamilNadu Govt. in 1980
Isai
Perarignar by Tamil Isai Sangam, Chennai in 1982
Padma
Sri by The President of India in 1983
Doctor
of Literature (Honoris Causa) by University of Madras in 1983
T.K.GOVINDA
RAO
Born
on 21.4.1929 at Tiruponithura in Kerala of Kamalam and Krishna Rao, Govinda
Rao had his first lessons in music under his cousin, Mani Bhagavatar. He
was in the first batch of students at the Central College of Music, Chennai.
The Principal then was Shri Musiri Subramania Ayyar. Along with his training
in college, he was also simultaneously under the tutelage of Shri Chembai
Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. After his training he has been giving concerts
extensively in India and abroad. He was a lecturer at the Central College
of Carnatic Music, Chennai and later Producer of All india Radio, Chennai
and Chief producer AIR, Delhi. He retired in 1990. He has come out with
a book - Varnamanjari comprising 27 varnas, Kshetra kirtanas of Tyagaraja
on Tripati, Kanchipuram and Tiruvayaru fully notated along with Shri S.Rajam.
He has toured several countries - USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, SriLanka
and Mangolia. He has received various titles & honours, a few of which
are - Sangita Sastra Ratnakara in 1968 by Sri Mouna Swamigal, Chennai ;
Gana Kala Thilakam in 1972 by Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Malleswaram ; Gana
Nadakanal in 1985 by Nadakanal, Chennai ; Sangita Choodamani in 1988 by
Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
