Trivandrum Venkataraman

eppramod · Post by **eppramod** » 05 Jan 2010, 16:07

Heard from my cousin in Chennai that Veena Vidwan Shri Trivandrum Venkataraman sir
passed away in an accident (On the way to trivandrum)..

I saw the update news in a malayalam online newspaper also

Big loss.
Heartfelt condolences to his family and students

Pramod

balumridu · Post by **balumridu** » 05 Jan 2010, 17:24

News is true. Sad and great loss to our music cirlce. lost a great vidwan and teacher. Very unfortunate

true_rasika · Post by **true_rasika** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:07

Venkatraman Mama (71) was driving from Chennai to Trichy on the afternoon of Jan 5 with his eldest daughter Jayashree, aged 40. They were going to perform the monthly ceremonies for his wife, who had passed away just a few weeks earlier. Both Mama and Jayashree were killed in the accident.

It is indeed poignant that Mama should pass away very shortly after receiving the Sangeetha Kala Acharya award at the Academy - a fitting award recognizing his yeoman experience in teaching hundreds of students all over the world spanning several decades.

Mama's passing (as well as Jayashree's) is also a great personal loss to me, as well as to my family. Mama was my wife's maternal uncle. His older sister, R Subbalekshmi (my mother-in-law), learned vocal music from Sri SSI for 12+ years and veena from Sri KSN for several years. She served at the Swati Tirunal Academy for 35+ years, serving as Principal at the time of her retirement. Our family is devastated by this loss.

We will cherish Mama's visit to New Jersey in the summer of 2009, when he came for his student's arangetram and also gave a splendid concert.

May their souls rest in peace.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:07

A horrific piece of news.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:16

Very sad news. Condolences.

ram · Post by **ram** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:18

Still to come to terms with this sad news. Had just heard him speak a few days back at Smt. Jayanthi Kumaresh's lec dem at the Music Academy.

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:18

Very sad indeed ! Condolences..

Sathej

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:23

OH NO! This is extremely, extremely sad and shocking! I don't know if I'll ever come to terms with this!

Abhimanam · Post by **Abhimanam** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:29

Very shocking news a very great loss for carnatic music world. The serene veena recital I attended at Ragasudha Hall just a few days back is still lingering in my ears. How sad and unpredictable is human life Heart felt condolences to his family

rganesh · Post by **rganesh** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:32

I am deeply saddened by the news. My heartfelt condolences to the family.

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 05 Jan 2010, 18:58

This is sad. His music was always gentle and pleasing.

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 05 Jan 2010, 19:02

Oh this is so very tragic.

Condolences to the family and students he leaves behind.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 05 Jan 2010, 19:11

what a tragedy! My sincere condolences.

Radhika-Rajnarayan · Post by **Radhika-Rajnarayan** » 05 Jan 2010, 20:03

Terrible, terrible news. Heartfelt condolences to the family and all his disciples - Ramnath and Gopinath Iyer in particular. I remember Sri Venkatraman at their duet concert organised by Radel in 2003 in Chennai. And his kind words and advice to us on the electronic veena. Such a kind soul. So unassuming. Looking at him, the way he would speak, no one would believe that he was such a great master of the art. A truly great vidwan.
This year has started with yet another shock for the world of Carnatic music.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 05 Jan 2010, 20:08

What a horrible way to start the morning. I have heard so much about his great music and was looking forward to listening to him this coming season. My very heartfelt condolences to all who were near and dear to him and his daughter.

vidyaarthi · Post by **vidyaarthi** » 05 Jan 2010, 20:59

Is going to be very very difficult for me to accept and digest this sad news;
May his soul rest in the abode of Saraswathi for ever.
Neyveli Santhanagoplan.

bhamah · Post by **bhamah** » 05 Jan 2010, 21:06

I cant express the feelings of my heart on hearing the news.Three years back during Navarathri he was giving a concert in Udiyannor Temple.There were only ten people in the audiance due to heavy downpour.Not minding the thin audiance he played from his heart .He played Mukahari ragam.I dont know whether he was having some other song.When I requested him to play Emaninne with a big smile he played that.It is so difficult to digest the death

veenajj · Post by **veenajj** » 05 Jan 2010, 21:12

This is cruel. Venkataraman Sir will always be counted amongst all-time great vainikas without doubt. For a man of such vidwath, he was very humble and simple. We will miss his personal touch and his words of encouragement.

Jeyaraaj and Jaysri

msakella · Post by **msakella** » 05 Jan 2010, 21:24

Very nice gentleman and great teacher having been honoured with the award ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“Sangeeta Kala AcharyaÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ on 01-01-2010 at the Music Academy Sadas. I couldnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t believe this very sad news. Heartfelt condolences to his family members and students he leaves behind. amsharma

gowri narayanan · Post by **gowri narayanan** » 05 Jan 2010, 21:43

an extremely devastating news.our heartfelt condolences to all members of his family and students.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 05 Jan 2010, 22:12

A shocking news indeed. He was a great vidwan and what a cruel destiny!Avery great loss!

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 05 Jan 2010, 22:37

indeed a great loss. i m in a state of shock.

a great vainka and vocalist.

may the souls rest in peace.

it may be of interest to people to know that Smt. Jayashree, his daughter was also an accomplished vocalist and vainika herself. She was serving on the faculty of the Teacher's college of Music at the Music Academy and was also the librarian there. A fine lady, as far as i had interacted.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 05 Jan 2010, 22:46

Condolences to the family members. It is very sad

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 05 Jan 2010, 23:02

so sad... i became a fan of sri mama right from the first time i happened to hear his playing in veena-venu-violin... i have spoken to him many times as he worked in the music academy... may their souls rest in peace...

devi · Post by **devi** » 05 Jan 2010, 23:11

shocking news. my heartfelt condolences and prayers

rasaali · Post by **rasaali** » 05 Jan 2010, 23:28

Indeed shocking news. I was just thinking about him last evening recalling how a a friend had mentioned his dedication as a teacher.

This friend and I had recently exchanged emails on how well deserved the Kala Acharya award was for him.

My sincere condolences to the family and students. Very very sad that his daughter also met such an end at a young age.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 05 Jan 2010, 23:45

Heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and disciples!

rajeeram · Post by **rajeeram** » 06 Jan 2010, 00:56

Absolutely shocking and doubly tragic with his daughter passing away too! My heartfelt condolences to his family and disciples. For us rasikas, this is such a monumental loss. We have so few Veena Vidwans/Vidushis and for Sri.Venkatraman to be snatched away in such a cruel fashion, I am deeply saddened.

Growing up in Trivandrum with the opportunity to listen to his music regularly, either in AIR or concerts, to me Veena was synonymous with Venkatraman Mama. Such a sad day.

smala · Post by **smala** » 06 Jan 2010, 01:09

Destiny is so unpredictable. Nor does she give us a choice in the way to go. Here I was, writing about the romance and adventure of travel in India somewhere else and here is a stark reminder that the same travel can have a biting, fatal edge.

Deeply saddened by the loss of Vidwan Venkataraman and his aspiring daughter - on the heels of the loss of Vidwan Venkataraman's wife - an entire family gone in one fell swoop. My thoughts are with the rest of the family.

Shyamala

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 06 Jan 2010, 01:21

Very sad and shocked to hear this. Heartfelt condolences...

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 06 Jan 2010, 03:47

Very sad to hear this tragic news. He was a great vidwan and so humble.
Over the last few years he was in Australia regularly, teaching several students
Only yesterday did I read about the massive road toll in India http://www.smh.com.au/world/more-cars-m ... -lnf5.html

rganesh · Post by **rganesh** » 06 Jan 2010, 04:53

My daughter Janani had the privilege of learning from Sri Venkatraman. She requested me to post her thoughts on her guru and his music:

Sri Trivandrum R Venkatraman was my guru and it is with great sadness that I received the news of his passing. Venkatraman mama was a man whose thoughts were consumed by his passion for carnatic music. Venkatraman mama hails from a tradition of unalloyed classicism and adherence to traditional tenets in presenting chaste Carnatic music and this is exactly what he hoped to pass down to his students. I was always amazed at his commitment to his students and to his teaching. No amount of time was too much for him if it meant that his student would be able to sing a particular sangati the way it is meant to be sung, the alapana developed the way it should be and swara patterns beautified in a manner so simple, yet so elegant. I would have sessions with him that would easily span 6-8 continuous hours. He would sit across me and in an untiring manner, he would sing and teach me nuances about krithis and ragams and voice culture techniques that I would never have been able to pick up on my own or with anyone else as my teacher. When I would tire out from these intensive sessions, I would take a break during which time, he would compile his thoughts on how we would continue with my practice and what he could teach me next.

I last met him during Thanksgiving Break in November 2009. His wife was ill and hospitalized. Having spent hours at his home in Chennai for music lessons, I know very well how close he was to his wife and that she was his anchor. I understood how deeply distressed he was by his wife's ill health, but he greeted us with a cheerful demeanor and was genuinely happy to see me after a long time. He sincerely inquired about the progress I was making with music and we discussed krithis I should consider learning and other aspects I need to focus on and develop. His passion and dedication as a teacher was an unfailing trait and it was a part of his personality.

I learnt so much from my interaction with my guru - his vidwat and dedication to carnatic music was something I treasure and will forever try to emulate. He developed my taste in carnatic music and taught me to love it. Even today, whenever I sing something, I think about what Venkatraman mama would have said about that rendition and try to correct it accordingly. He was my biggest inspiration and it saddens me that the carnatic music community has lost such a great artist, musicologist and teacher.

He has a lovely family and his heart was full of love and pride for his daughters, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. I cannot begin to understand their loss, and his surviving family will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

Janani

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 06 Jan 2010, 05:27

Sad to hear the shocking news. Condolences to the family

jlvina · Post by **jlvina** » 06 Jan 2010, 09:34

very very sad.. that God took away such a musician who played pure classical music from us..
jayalakshmi sekhar

Dikshitar · Post by **Dikshitar** » 06 Jan 2010, 10:10

It's a great loss. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and students.

- V Shankaranarayanan

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 06 Jan 2010, 10:18

Extremely shocking. I heard his concert in Nada Inbam in Raga Sudha hall, a superb concert on 26th Dec... PSN mama also attended that concert... How it turned out to be his last concert..

http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... 22009.html

Looks like 2010 is going to be another cruel year, like 2009 for music community

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 06 Jan 2010, 10:25

Terrible news. A great vidvAn has left us prematurely... my condolences to his family. An awful start to 2010.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 06 Jan 2010, 10:51

My condolences. My misfortune that I will never be able to hear him live

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 06 Jan 2010, 11:34

My heartfelt condolences to the family & friends.

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 06 Jan 2010, 13:18

Yesterday- Raga Sudha Hall - Notice board mentioned the sad demise this great vidwan. They observed 2 min silence before Satur Sisters gave the performance. SVK's daughter explained his fond relationship with Sri SVK and Nada Inbam...Very sad..

A True loss to CM word.

mahaspeaking · Post by **mahaspeaking** » 06 Jan 2010, 14:37

This is really bad and shocking news for me in the new year. I learnt veena from Venkatraman Sir for a while in the late Eighties at Trivandrum. I also met Jayashree a couple of years ago when she was at the Music Academy library, and got to update myself about him. I was planning to be in Chennai for the music season, and was looking forward to attending his concerts and meeting him, but unfortunately I couldn't make it to the season concerts. Every now and then, when I think of him, I visualise him sitting on the steps to his house and chewing betel leaves. Sir is sadly no more; the memories will remain. May his soul rest in peace.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 06 Jan 2010, 15:05

Truly a great loss. He was a great vidwan. His daughter's demise is a double loss.

Condolences.

vmr · Post by **vmr** » 06 Jan 2010, 15:23

Great Loss indeed. Is he the same artist who teamed up with Lalgudi Sir & Ramani sir in the " Veena-Venu-Violin" combination.

VMR

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 06 Jan 2010, 20:07

Sumathish wrote:
However, I frantically searched for an obituary in today's The Hindu newspaper but couldn't find one. Strange!

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/06/stories ... 970300.htm

carnaticmusic2010 · Post by **carnaticmusic2010** » 06 Jan 2010, 21:59

Someone just uploaded many private videos and recordings of Veena Venkataraman on youtube.

Just search Veena R. Venkataraman.

devi · Post by **devi** » 06 Jan 2010, 23:01

The Ahiri padam of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal was there earlier, later disappeared. I am glad that its re-uploaded. Words of the padam are shining like pearls. How melodious! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqnEfKxBfFs

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 06 Jan 2010, 23:11

Photo of Shri Venkataraman at the Sadas:
http://www.kutcheribuzz.com//decseason2 ... 271-3.html

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 07 Jan 2010, 06:36

Pictures are worth thousand words! Thank you for sharing those pictures.

Sumathish · Post by **Sumathish** » 07 Jan 2010, 22:54

A tribute to the maestro - http://www.chennaidecemberseason.com/20 ... n-rip.html

true_rasika · Post by **true_rasika** » 08 Jan 2010, 00:05

The tribute has two errors:

1. Venkataraman Mama was born in 1938 and had completed 71 years.

2. His daughter's name was Jayashree (nor Devisri).

Apparently the details of the accident have been lifted verbatim from the news report in The Hindu's Trivandrum edition.