Kunnakudy Venkatarama Iyer

Carnatic Musicians
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ragam-talam
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Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 02:15

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Excerpt from Hindu article on this great vidwan:

Kunnakudy Venkatarama Iyer was the son of Kunnakudy Subbier, a devotee of Lord Muruga, and his sister Lakshmi Ammal was a lyricist and one of the earliest students of Music Academy, Chennai.

Venkatarama Iyer, who started his career as a supervisor with All India Radio, Chennai, in the 1930s, is said to have brought in a blend of several styles to enrich the flavour of each concert. He is known to have followed the bani of guru Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Iyer, Karikkudi Veena Brothers and his own brother Kunnakkudy Ganapathy Iyer. His contemporaries recollect his inclination to include rare North Indian ragas in his repertoire. Some of the hits in his discs released are `Kanden Kanden' in Bagesri, `Velane' in Subhabantuvarali and Kaavadi Chindu `Vannathinai Mavai' and `Moosuvandu' that gave him instant fame.

Venkatarama Iyer was charmed by Kaavadi Chindu composed by Chengulam Annamalai Reddiar.

Iyer's cinema stint was equally exciting. He scored music for `Kannagi,' `Kubera Kuchela' and `Mangayarkarasi.' His disciples include P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari and T. R. Mahalingam. He was conferred Kalaimamani during the regime of the late M. G. Ramachandran.

And an audio clip

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