Unnikrishnan Sowmya Part 1

Dear friends,
I propose to give my review on the concerts of Shri. Unnikrishnan and Smt.Sowmya in 3 parts. This is the 1st one.
Before reviewing the concerts of Shri. Unni krishnan and Smt. Sowmya, it would be befitting to give a briefing on their Guru,Dr. S.Ramanathan, a great soul, who relentlessly shared the abundant knowledge he gained over years, munificently with the factory of disciples he produced,two among the gems, are the above ones.

I passionately remember him for the many Tamil songs he popularised, the chief among them being'Yarukku thaan theriyum"in the raga Deva manohari and also the hither to unknown or very very rarely sung raga,Lalitha.I had not heard this before Ramanathan sir.

As Sowmya rightly remembered and paid tributes to him during the folk round,I also tearfully, remember this great, simple soul,for the extraordinary contributions he has made to carnatic music

A brief biography of Dr. Ramanathan

Birth: April 8th, 1917 at Tirukoilur (Velavanur)

Parents: Subramania Shastri & Pattammal

Initial tutelage: At age 7 from Tirukoilur Ramudu Bhagavatar & Manalurpettai Subramania Dikshitar

Gurus: Tanjavur Ponniah Pillai, Tiruvaiyaru Sabhesa Iyer, Sattur Krishna Iyengar, Madurai Subramania Iyer, Tiger Varadachariar

Advanced Learning: Valadi Krishna Iyer, Devakottai Narayana Iyengar

Education: Sangita Bhooshanam from Annamalai University; Ph. D. (Ethnomusicology) from Wesleyan University, CT, USA for his dissertation on Silappadikaram.

Noted scholar, researcher and teacher. Author of several papers, treatises and monographs. Associated with B. Rajam Iyer in the Tamil production of Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini. Dean, Visiting Professor, Principal and Research Director in various institutions

Proficient vainika

Concerts and music marked by bhava, deep understanding of sahitya. Emphasis on classicism and chastity of original music and lyrics.

Titles: Sangita Kalanidhi (1985), Isai Perarignar (1981), Sangita Kala Sagara, Swati Tilakam and so on.

Sishya Parampara: S. Sowmya, P. Unnikrishnan, Savitri Satyamurthy, Geetha Ramanathan Bennett, etc.

Passed away on March 19th, 1988 at Chennai

I am giving the following Tamil song "AAdidum Arase" rarely heard krithi composed by Dr. Ramanathan sir,sung during the dance performance of his grand daughter. Enjoy