Strings Spread Serenity C

MUSICIANS OF KERALA A series on some unsung musicians S. RUGMINI GOPALAKRISHNAN Strings spread serenity C. Ramakrishnan hen we delve and Purandaradasa, from into the history these legends in their original Wof music, we pathantarams. can find several musicians Musiri Subramania Iyer, across generations who who came as examiner have been leading a solitary for the second year public life in their native land, examinations, was so devoting their time to impressed after hearing teaching and accepting the Rugmini play the Kambhoji rare concert opportunities geetam on the veena, that that come their way. They he recommended she be do not chase fame, money promoted directly to the fifth or concert opportunities but lead a life year! That was a turning point in her of contentment. Their devotion to musical discussions in the house of life—to become a vainika. She passed the art and the commitment to pass her grandfather. She joined the Swati Ganabhooshanam in veena with a on their knowledge to the next Tirunal Music Academy (later named first class. generation is worth emulating. One the Swati Tirunal College of Music) such vidushi is vainika Rugmini when she was thirteen, to pursue the Rugmini attributes her success to her Gopalakrishnan, who has been spread Ganabhooshanam (vocal) course with gurus and the hard work she has put ing music in Tiruvananthapuram for veena as an allied subject. She was in over the years. She is extremely seven decades now. fortunate to be under the tutelage vocal on the importance of guru of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, bhakti. As a little girl, Rugmini would Rugmini was born on 24 August K.R. Kumaraswamy Iyer for vocal and get up at 3 am and begin her practice, 1936, as the second of four children, K.S. Naryanaswamy, K.K. Sivaraman which she would do for at least to P.V. Sreenivasa Iyer and Lakshmi for veena. She learnt several twelve hours a day! She continues to Ammal in Tirunelveli district. Losing compositions of the music trinity, practise for long hours even today. her father at the tender age of two, Gopalakrishna Bharati, Papanasam she was raised by her grandparents. Sivan, Swati Tirunal, Arunagirinathar Rugmini participated in the All India Twelveyear old Rugmini came Radio veena competition in 1954 to Tiruvananthapuram under the Young Rugmini receiving the prize from and received the first prize from the care of her maternal grandfather President Rajendra Prasad first President of India, Rajendra Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar Prasad. Her first formal concert was and uncle Nellai Krishnamurthy. Her arranged by the Malayali Samajam, elder sister was married to Nellai New Delhi, and she further presented Krishnamurthy who was a professor at three concerts in Delhi including one the Swati Tirunal Academy. Rugmini before the President at the Rashtrapati was indeed fortunate to learn the Bhavan. rudiments of Carnatic music from Rugmini was awarded the Government the doyen Muthiah Bhagavatar, who of India Cultural Scholarship and foresaw the potential of a musician received advanced training from K.S. in her. As a child, she was naturally Narayanaswamy, the doyen of the attracted to Carnatic music as she Travancore bani of veena playing. was constantly exposed to the music classes conducted by her uncle and the 42 l SRUTI December 2020.

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