R.KRISHNASWAMY IN AIR TODAY 8.45 am

[CRama]

It was a pleasant surprise for me today when I heard the concert of TVM R.Krishnaswamy through Chennai A of AIR today. He is a disciple of SSI and staff artiste in AIR, TVM. He must be past 80 now and is living in TVM. He had taught hundreds of kirtanans of the trinity, Swati Tirunal etc in radio which was broadcast regularly in AIR. He is one such highly respected teacher, knowledgeable vidwan who sings unadulterated pristine music but not known outside his home state. He has taught most of the Navavarana kritis and many other gems of Dikshithar. The songs included in today's concert Sree Lakshmivaraham, Raghupathe rama etc - he only taught in AIR and popularised the songs in TVM. Those who have heard today's concert will definitely know the standard of his music. A very unassuming person did not take efforts to showcase his talent in Madras. Like many such musicians, satisfied with his life in TVM. Sivaramakrishnan knows him very well and may be able to give more information about him.

[malavi]

It was a real surprise to hear sri.Krishnaswamy in AIR today.is he the same Krishnaswamy who used to teach classical music in TVM radio.He is very old now and dont know how he gave a concert in Chennai AIR.
I have learnt many kritis from him when i was living in cochin.i have met him and spoken to him whenever i went for my programmes in AIR TVM.he was such a good teacher .So i could not beleive when i heard his name in todays Arangisai.

[CRama]

Yes Malavi. This is the same R.Krishnaswamy. Nice to know that you have learnt some songs from him. This is an old concert broadcast from TVM AIR. I am so happy that AIR Chennai has broadcast this concert.

[ganeshkant]

I was just guessing about the artist and thanks CRama for the info.His singing was great.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks to CRama for the post.
The veteran Vidwan & his wife are living with their son K Jayaram (an official in Kerala university)at Kaladi, a suburb of Trivandrum. Sri Krishnaswamy has 2 daughters and a son-all musically inclined. Second daughter Premalatha is professor of music in Kerala. Jayaram was my senior at Govt Arts College, Thycaud where I did my +2 (1972-74). He is also a good singer.

Sri Krishnaswamy Sir was also a family friend of ours. While he was a student of Swati Tirunal Music Academy he used to visit our parents who were staying in Chinna chalai street in TVM. All our family members (especially my elder sisters) are disciples of Krishnaswamy Sir - mainly over the 'radio sangita paatam' broadcasts of AIR Trivandrum during the sixties- eighties. What a variety of kriti-s he taught! The pancharatna krtis and navaavarana kriti-s were handled during the very early years.

During 1980 music academy series, he got the best musician award.

However, as CRama has noted,like many Kerala artists, he too chose to remain within the State. On many navaratri mandapam concert concert visits, I have seen Sri Semmangudi affectionately talking to his old time disciple.

during his younger days Sri Krishnaswamy sir was the prime disciple of T.Lakshmana Pillai, a prolific composer in Tamil and a bureaucrat in Travancore administration. He has popularised many of TLP's kritis and published is works. To name one, 'Yaaredhu seikilum nee nalamey seika' is a popular kriti in Ataana .

[calicut]

RK Sir has taught pretty much all members of my family, beginning with my father and mother. My mother always felt that he was equal in his jnanam to any of the top vidwans of his generation, but chose to live and teach and perform quietly in Kerala. I was very fortunate to learn from him when I was young and those songs remain deeply etched in my memory thanks to his meticulous approach and attention to details and perfection. Very happy to hear that his concert was broadcast since we have always felt he was highly under appreciated (which no doubt is the case with many other Kerala artistes as well)in his performing days.

[CRama]

The above concert has been uploaded by TVG in sangeethapriya.

[T.V.GOPALAKRISHNAN]

I have uploaded the subject concert to my folder. You can access it from the below link:
http://www.sangeethapriya.org/down.php - vide Album ID:01-C2474
Thanks to my friend Sri C.Ramakrishnan, who had provided the .mp3 files for my upload.

Regards,
TVG.
Sangeethapriya

[kjayaram]

Dear All,

This is Jayaram, son of R Krishnaswamy. Myself, my mother, my father and my 2 sisters are all very much pleased with everyone for the nice words spoken about my father. He turns 90 on this Friday, the 25th May. His telephone number is: 0471-2345228/9846224520. Thank you

Regards,
Jayaram

[Thalaivarda]

Thanks for the nice gesture. May god bless him with health and prosperity.

[satyabalu]

Dear All,

This is Jayaram, son of R Krishnaswamy. Myself, my mother, my father and my 2 sisters are all very much pleased with everyone for the nice words spoken about my father. He turns 90 on this Friday, the 25th May. His telephone number is: 0471-2345228/9846224520. Thank you

Regards,
Jayaram

If mail ID is provided I think all can forward our best wishes seeking his blessings ..