Remembering virtuoso vocalist Tanjore S. Kalyanaraman -OxBig News Network

To connoisseurs of Carnatic music, Tanjore S. Kalyanaraman was many things — a virtuoso vocalist, visionary composer and a bold innovator. SKR, as he is widely known, was an illustrious disciple of the legendary G.N. Balasubramaniam. His most distinctive contribution to the Carnatic canon was the creation of the 36 dwi-madhyama panchama-varja melas — derived by excluding the panchamam and employing both shuddha and prati madhyamas in tandem. He not only ideated these ragas, revolutionary in theory and demanding in practice, but also gave several of them form and soul through his own compositions.

On his 95th birth anniversary, Madhuradhwani paid a homage to SKR with a commemorative event at the Arkay Convention Center. The evening also featured a violin concert by Nagai R. Muralidharan, who was accompanied by Srimushnam V. Raja Rao on the mridangam and K.V. Gopalakrishnan on the kanjira. On the occasion were also present Cleveland Sundaram and Bhushany Kalyanaraman, among other dignitaries.

Born on June 2, 1930, in Thiruvengadu near Mayavaram, kalyanaraman belonged to the lineage of vidwans — Komal Muthu Bhagavathar (great grandfather) and Madhirimangalam Natesa Iyer (grand uncle). While his father N. Srinivasa Iyer initiated him into the art, musicologist Kittamani Iyer played a crucial role in bringing him under the tutelage of GNB, shared Muralidharan, quoting family sources.

Muralidharan recalled his first concert with SKR at George Town, Madras, in 1970. His guru R.S. Gopalakrishnan had requested that his student be permitted to accompany the maestro, alongside himself. That opportunity blossomed into a cherished association. “People often link SKR with vivadhi ragas because he sang them with finesse,” he noted, “but his renditions of mainstream ragas were equally compelling.” He cited SKR’s Thodi as an object lesson in raga development and breath control, evoking the grandeur of T.N. Rajarathnam Pillai’s music, and played recordings of SKR’s Thodi and Arabhi alapanas, which brought those memories alive for the audience. 

The list of those who accompanied SKR reads like a roll call of Carnatic royalty — Lalgudi Jayaraman, T.N. Krishnan, M.S. Gopalakrishnan, M. Chandrasekaran, Palghat Mani Iyer, C.S. Murugabhoopathy, Umayalpuram Sivaraman, T.K. Murthy, Palghat Raghu, Karaikudi Mani, Mannargudi Eswaran, Raja Rao, and more — underscoring the esteem in which he was held, added Muralidharan.

Raja Rao fondly recalled SKR’s love for scooters, cars, gadgets, and surround sound set-ups long before they became a commonplace. It was SKR, he reminded, who first perfected and popularised the Tyagaraja kriti ‘Enta muddo’ in Bindumalini. Subbudu once, in his review, likened SKR’s sangatis to a bountiful cascade of parijata flowers tumbling down when the branches of the tree are shaken, Raja Rao said.

Nagai Muralidharan with his disciple D. Badrinarayanan on the violin, Srimushnam Raja Rao on the mridangam and K.V. Gopalakrishnan on the kanjira at the tribute concert.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

Sundaram reflected on his 18-year-long association with SKR, through his sister, who was his student. “SKR faced many challenges in his personal life. His wife, Bhushany, was his pillar of support andinstrumental in his several accomplishments. He was incredibly hard-working. It was a frequent occurrence that he would take up a single raga and kriti and practise for four hours, mostly in the company of MSG and Karaikudi Mani. He was neversatisfied with himself and always looked for improvement. Never one to complain, he once lamented — words that not only saddened but left a lasting impression on me: “uzhaikka kathundane thavira naan pizhaikka kathukkala“ (I learnt to work hard, but not how to make a living).

SKR was unrelenting in his pursuit of perfection, said Sundaram. “Once, I gave him a recording of his concert. The next day, he returned it with the pallavi erased, saying it had not come out well. I argued that it was fine. He replied, ‘If that is your idea of good music, and you are promoting it, then God save music!’ This, he said, about his own music, which is rare to come across.”

Sundaram recounted how SKR, on the advice of K.V. Narayanaswami, took a six-month break from sadhakam to regain his voice. Such was his discipline and respect for peer wisdom. Ever the innovator, SKR even performed a whistle concert — dubbed “a flute concert without a flute” — accompanied by Raja Rao in the U.S.

Music was his life; yet, recognition often eluded him. The Kalaimamani award came only on the eve of his demise — he passed away on January 9, 1994.

The evening then segued into a violin recital by Muralidharan — an offering that resonated with the spirit of SKR. Assisted by his disciple D. Badrinarayanan, Muralidharan opened with Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Tatvamariya tarama’ (Reetigowla), followed by ‘Tolijanmamuna jeyu’ (Bilahari). Neetimati and Vagadeeswari — two vivadhi ragas dear to SKR — were lovingly explored, the former through Koteeswara Iyer’s ‘Mohanakara Muthukumara’, and the latter in Tyagaraja’s ‘Paramatmudu velige’. The tani avartanam, featuring Raja Rao and Gopalakrishnan, sparkled with vibrant and absorbing rhythmic interplay. SKR’s own Darbari Kanada thillana in Misra Chapu served as a fitting signature from the master himself.