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
D.PATTAMMAL
- MUSICIAN / COMPOSER.............(b. - c.1928)
Wife of Dr.M.N.Dandapani,
Pattammal is an ardent devotee of Classical music initially as a vocalist
and when she lost her voice, as a composer and musicologist. She had been
giving concerts on All India Radio for sometime but her contribution to
music is laudable for her publications and compositions :
'Madhava Geetham'
- Jayadeva's Ashtapadi in Tamil in 1979;
'Mela Ragha
Kritimala' - Tamil compositions in the 72 Mela ragas in 1981 as has been
done by Kotiswara Ayyar;
'Janya Raga
Kritimala' with 83 compositions;
'Raga Pravaham'
jointly with her spouse on raga classifications, etc., a book of reference
of much use in 1984;
Hundreds of
kritis and kirtanas called Arul kirtanas, Tiruvilayadal Kirtanas, etc.
Pattammal had
varied training in music with Alamelu Jayarama Ayyar ( an authority on
Ashtapadi and wife of famous lawyer, K.S.Jayarama Ayyar), Pozhakudi P.V.Ganesier,
Kalakad Ramanarayana Ayyar and D.K.Pattammal.
Titles &
Honours :
Sahitya Ratna,
Vaggeya Ratna & Kalimamani from Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram
M.P. PERIASWAMI
@Pe. THOORAN - COMPOSER
Born at Modakurichi
in Coimbatore district of Palanivelappa Gounder and Paavaathal, he was
a born teacher, patriot and a composer of merit. He was greatly influenced
and inspired by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati. He declined to sit for
his examination for Bachelor of Arts shocked by the execution of the immortal
Bhagat Singh, a prince among patriots by the British. Thooran qualified
later passing B.A., L.T. A voracious writer, he composed over six
hundred songs on national, spiritual and moral issues. He wote 'a
poem a day' for several years after his daily poojahs. His song 'Adu
Ratte' was a clarion patriotic call which was widely in current use during
the Freedom Struggle. He became popular and the melody queen N.C.Vasanthakokilam
included this piece in her cocnerts invariably. A precocious child
and later a man with noble ideals, Thooran is an acknowldeged poet and
composer. Analogous to Tyagarajah's 'Santhamulekha, Soukyamu ledhu',
Thooran's 'Santhamillamal sukham undo?' (Nattakurinji) stresses
that there is no joy without patience and no contentment amidst worries.
Deep philosophical truths lay hidden in his simple devotional songs.
Musical aesthtics and bhava find abundant evidence in his compositions.
With profound
poetic talents, he had to seek like Arunachala Kavirayar outside help to
set his songs to tune as he was not a musician. He availed of the
services of Sivaramakrishna Ayyar as guru and choreographer. (Sivaramakrishnan
was born in 1913 at Mavelikara in Kerala and had joined Sri Ramakrishna
Vidyalaya as music teacher in 1937). Thooran had also availed of
the services of senior musicians like K.V. Narayanaswamy, T.M. Theagarajan,
T.K. Govinda Rao and T.V. Sankaranarayanan to set his songs to music.
Eminent musicians
like Tiger Varadachariar, Musiri Subramania Ayyar and Semmangudi Srinivasa
Ayyar had spoken highly of his compositions. His songs have been
brought out in five volumes titled 'Isai Mani Manjari'. Annamalai
University, Alliance Company, Tamil Isai Sangham and Tamil Writers' Association
have brought out his works. His publications include 'Thooran
Stories' (1962), 'Nalla Nalla Paattu' (1965), 'Call
of the Wild' and 'Bharati' for children.
His claim to
fame rests on his memorable contributions to Tamil. He was Chief
Editor, Tamil Encyclopaedia during 1948-1978 and the encyclopaedia went
into ten huge volumes. The credit for bringing out the first-ever
Children's Encyclopaedia in Tamil in ten volumes also goes to him.
His life was one of fulfilment and enduring contribution of intellectual
excellence. The moral code of conduct he set for himself was high.
When T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar granted him a salary of Rs.30, he took
only Rs.15 per mensem. This reminds one of the former Prime Minister
Lal Bahadur Sastri, Gottuvadyam Sakharama Rao and Violin Sundaresa Ayyar
of Tiruvalangadu and men of such unstained galactic stream.
Posts Held:
Teacher in
Bobichettipalayam - 4 years
Warden &
Teacher, Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, Perianaickenpalayam - 15 years
Chief Editor,
Tamil Encyclopaedia - 1948-1978
Chief Editor,
Tamil Kalai Kalanjiam, a prestigious journal
Honours &
Titles:
Padma Bhushan
by President of India 1968
Isai Perarignar
by Tamil isai Sangham 1972
Kalaimamani
by TamilNadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram 1970
Annamali Chettiar
Award by MAC Charities 1978
Thoorans's
multi-sided interests covered the deliberations and activities of
The All India
Radio
Tamil Nadu
Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram
Tamil Isai
Sangham
Centre of
College of Carnatic Music
Tamil Kalluri,
etc.
R.PICHUMANI
- VAINIKAT....................................(b. May 18, 1920)
Born in a
family of musicians, R.Pichumani had training in vocal music under Jalra
Gopala Ayyar at the age of ten and later veena with Tiruchi Kuppanna.
At the age of fifteen he won the prize for Carnatic Vocal at the National
College. Became a 'Sangeetha Bhooshanam' of the Annamalai University
under the stalwarts Tiger Vatradachariar, K.S.Narayanaswami Ayyar and V.S.Gomati
Sankara Ayyar. 'On the foundations of the intensive training received
there, he built for himself a distinct Classical Carnatic aesthetics enduring
the pressures thrust on him by the materially rich and gorgeous world of
cine-music in which he had to serve for a number of years during his early
years.
For nearly
five decades, Pichmani has been a dedicated sampradaya vainika having given
over 1500 concerts on the radio, doordarshan, sabhas, etc. he is
a respected vidwan known for unruffled rendition at once satisfying and
soothing.
DR.S.PINAKAPANI
- VOCALIST.............(b.August 3, 1913)
If music has
therapeutic values, a surgeon and post-graduate in medicine is the best
qualified person to be a musician. Dr.S.Pinakapani is an eminent musician
and a civil surgeon who dissects not only human anatomy but also the intricate
vistas of Carnatic music with distinction.
Son of S.Kameswara
Rao and S.Jayamma, the doctor learnt music from B.S.Lakshmana Rao of Mysore
and had advanced training under Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu and Rangaramanuja
Ayyangar. After his debut in 1936, he had given numerous vocal recitals
on the All India Radio and elsewhere. He has been Asthana Vidwan, Tirumalai
Tirupathi Devasthanams. He has composed tana varnams in rakti ragas.
He is the recipient
of many awards like :
Sangita Natak
Academy Awards - Both Delhi and Andhra Pradesh - 1966 & 1977
Ganakala Prapoorna
Sangita Kala
Sikhamani
Honoured by
the Indian Fine Arts Society
Sangita Kalanidhi
by the Music Academy, Madras in 1984.
"Dr.Piakapani
is a unique combination of a highly qualified medical expert and an outstanding
vocalist with a vast repertoire assiduosly built up over the decades. Even
as a student he showed a predilection for music and could write down much
in notation with extraordinary facility.' He has many disciples including
Medunuri Krishnamoorthy, the fine classicist.
MADURAI
PUSHPAVANAM - VOCALIST.............(1885-August 1917)
'A handsome
stripling with a curious coiffure that subsequently became the fashion
among his fans, clad in spotless white muslin with loose sleeves flying
about, with eyes closed and the music! What an intoxicating voice, responding
readily, with incredible ease and grace, to the surging crescendo of ravishing,
sophisticated music conjured up from a highly imaginative mind! And how
the audience rocked and swayed as if in a trance.'
observes R.Rangaramanuja
Ayyangar on Pushpavanam of Madurai, a disciple of one of the renowned teachers
of yester years, Ettayapuram Ramachandra Bhagavathar. The teacher prayed
for a disciple who would blend his unmatched expertise with a divine voice
and Pushpavanam was the answer and gift to him. Pushpavanam was a musical
discovery, a treasure-trove. The 'Flower Garden' which the name of the
vocalist means, was a veritable garden of raga, tana, pallavi, kriti and
swara and he was a master of concerts with few to challenge; but unfortunately,
he passed away too soon leving an undying name and fame. His daughter,
Rajam was a vocalist and Sangita Kalanidhi Madurai Mani Ayyar was his nephew.
