Neyyattinkara Vasudevan(1940-2008)

MUSICIANS OF KERALA A series on some unsung musicians

Neyyattinkara Vasudevan (1940-2008) C. Ramakrishnan

eyyatinkara Vasudevan Narayanan was adept in playing shone like a meteor in the the nagaswaram, but worked as Nfield of Carnatic music. a woodcutter for his livelihood. Hailing from a humble background, The family lived in deep penury, he attained success as a vocalist in a thatched hut lit only with a and teacher against heavy odds, kerosene lamp, in the village of facing many rough patches along Athazhamangalam in Neyyattinkara. the way. Born on 24 August 1940, as the son of a Dalit woodcutter, in Early days rural Thiruvananthapuram district Called Manivel, the child was (Neyyattinkara), Vasudevan went on exposed to nagaswaram music played to become a leading vocalist from by his father in the evenings after Kerala. returning from a day’s hard work in the forest. He would accompany Lord Krishna was the presiding deity his father to nagaswaram concerts of the local temple in Neyyatinkara. in nearby temples. There was a Just like Krishna, Vasudevan was hamlet of nagaswara vidwans in the born at midnight on Gokulashtami, vicinity and Vasudevan spent more music than academics. Seeing the and the family naturally believed that time in their homes than in school! boy’s innate interest, Vasudevan this child would bring good luck to He did his schooling in the Therivila was initiated into music under a local them. Vasudevan was the third among Primary School and Neyyattinkara musician, Kochukunju Bhagavatar. five siblings. Vasudevan’s parents, Boys High School. He also went Narayanan and Rajamma strove to with his father to cut wood. Even Vasudevan joined the Tyagaraja impart good education to the children. as a child he was more attracted to School of Music run by Shanmugham Bhagavatar for advanced music At Swati Tirunal College of Music 1961-62: (Foreground) S. Girija and Vairakumari. lessons, where he developed an Sitting (L to R) K.S. Harihara Iyer, N.G. Seetharama Iyer, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (principal), Dr. K. Bhaskaran Nair (collegiate director), K.S. Narayanaswamy and K.A. Krishnamachari. enduring friendship with Mohana­ Standing: (L to R) Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, K. Raghunathan Nair, P.R. Kumarakerala Varma chandran, who later became a and M. Karunakaran successful musician.

Vasudevan sang film songs of M.K. Tyagaraja Bhagavatar and K.B. Sundarambal in the nearby temple festivals. Later, he joined the Swati Tirunal College of Music (then known as Music Academy) to embark on a career in music. At college, he was fortunate to be trained by stalwarts like Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G.N. Balasubramaniam, Harihara Iyer, Seetharama Iyer, C.S. Krishna Iyer, K.S. Narayana­ swamy, and K.K. Sivaraman, among others.

38 l SRUTI June 2020 Life at the Academy association, Vasudevan honed his laya skills needed for a concert musician. Vasudevan has reminist, “I could Prof. Subramania Sarma, who was hardly afford one meal a day. You a faculty member, also recognised could get a standard meal for four Vasudevan’s potential and supported annas in a hotel, and we would walk him in the initial stages of his career. every afternoon for four kilometres He arranged for Vasudevan’s formal for that meal! I lived in the Academy arangetram in 1959 at a church; verandah along with a few other Sarma accompanied him on the violin students. Classes would start at 8 with Sathyavan Unnithan playing the am. Some of us would get up early mridangam. and practice until 7 am. Recalling Semmangudi’s classes, Vasudevan The following year, Vasudevan won With Balamuralikrishna said, “He would take classes from first place in the All India Music Competition and went to Delhi to 10 am which would extend up to 3 teachers were mesmerised by his receive the gold medal and certificate pm. Many days, it would be one raga alapana of Revati, preceding the from K.C. Pant, Home Minister. Later, or one kriti. We would be amazed Tanjavur Sankara Iyer composition, he met noted dancer Guru Gopinath, at his soaring manodharma and the Mahadeva Siva sambho. The Varali who arranged a few concerts for ragapravaham he could create for which followed enthralled everyone. Vasudevan in Delhi. On his return, hours together. We were reprimanded Semmangudi who joined the concert the Academy gave a warm reception at times, but he was patient to teach only midway, sat through the concert to Vasudevan who presented a fitting until each of us absorbed the minute till the finish! In the end, he honoured concert in the presence of Semmangudi nuances of each sangati.” Balamurali with the shawl he had and his other gurus; Subramania received from the Mysore Maharaja The Academy used to arrange concerts Sarma accompanied Vasudevan on the and confessed, “This is the best Varali by eminent artists for the benefit of violin and Mavelikkara Velukutty Nair I have heard so far!” the students. Thus, Vasudevan got on the mridangam. Semmangudi was the opportunity of listening to the Musical journey pleased with the concert and heartily concerts of Chembai, Ariyakudi, blessed him. A grand reception was Mridanga vidwan Mavelikkara Balamuralikrishna, and keenly also organised in his village where too Velukutty Nair, a faculty member in observed the nuances in their music. Vasudevan sang a concert. the Academy, was impressed with One day, Vasduevan was singing Vasudevan’s dedication. Through his Harikambhoji in class during the lunch recess. Semmangudi, who was In concert with Velukutty Nair impressed with the alapana, asked him how he had learnt it. Vasudevan meekly replied that he learnt it from his father’s nagaswaram playing. His father was invited to the Academy, and Semmangudi honoured him with a shawl—a genuine recognition of vidwat wherever found. On another occasion, the students’ committee at the Academy organised a concert by M. Balamuralikrishna. Semmangudi, as the principal, was not in favour of this but relented on the committee’s repeated requests. Balamurali, in his inimitable manner, created the ‘Balamurali spell’ with his innovative approach to various ragas coupled with his resplendent manodharma. The students and

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