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MADRAS MUSIC MELA 2001 |
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A
QUICK CHAT WITH VIDYA SHANKAR, WINNER OF THE MUDHRA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE |
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Highly respected in the field today,
Vainika
Vidya Shankar hails from a family studded with legendary figures such as C S
Iyer (author, musicologist and violinist) and Sir C V Raman, the Nobel-laureate
scientist. She had her training in music under giants like T S Sabhesa Iyer,
Mudicondan Sabhapati Iyer, Syama Sastri (grandson of Syama Sastri of the
Trinity) and T L Venkatarama Iyer. A graduate in arts and teaching, she made her
debut on the concert stage in 1935 and has since been recognised for her
traditional approach and purity.
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Vainika Vidya Shankar
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Her greatest contribution to the
Carnatic music field is perhaps her compilation and publication of the compositions of Syama Sastri,
Subbaraya Sastri and Annasami Sastri with notations. Being the disciple of the
grandson of Syama Sastri, she was eminently qualified to undertake such a mission with authority.
She is also widely acclaimed as a scholarly
musician with original contributions to serious subjects like the 22-srutis
concept. She is a much sought-after guru, with her expertise in Vina and vocal
music, besides Sanskrit.
Mudhra, the organisation run by 'Mudhra' Bhaskar
and his musician-wife Radha Bhaskar, shall honour this vidushi with the Mudhra
Award of Excellence during the Madras Music Mela 2001 in December. Carnatica
congratulates her on this occasion, and has a quick chat with her.
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| Guru(s) |
Learnt vocal music from
Sangeeta Kalanidhi T S Sabhesa Iyer for 7 years. I learnt Vina from
Mudicondan Sabhapati Iyer who taught me more than 600 kritis. I owe my capacity for
lecture-demonstrations to my guru Sangeeta Kalanidhi T L Venkatarama Iyer. I
also had the privilege of learning
from Syama Sastri for 5 years. |
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| Favorite
vocalist(s) from the past |
Musiri Subramanya
Iyer and Dr. S Ramanathan, whom I have accompanied
on the Vina for many house concerts. |
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| Favorite
instrumentalist(s) from
the past |
Violin - Papa
Venkataramaiah; Vina - Dhanammal; Mridangam - Pazhani Subramanya Pillai |
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| Favorite
vocalist(s) of the present day |
Nedunuri
Krishnamurti, D K Pattammal and R Vedavalli among the seniors, and Sanjay
Subramanyam among youngsters. |
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| Favorite
instrumentalist(s) of the present day |
Violinist V V
Subramanyam |
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| Favorite
composer(s) |
All the composers of
the Carnatic Trinity are my favorites. Syama Sastri is, of course, the
favorite among them! |
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| Favorite raga(s) |
Bhairavi |
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| Favorite venue(s) |
Once at a concert
organised my the Music Academy, I performed in an open auditorium at P S High School.
I still have pleasant memories of that concert. I also like mikeless
concerts and have performed in the Museum Theatre Auditorium at
Egmore, Chennai, which I consider the best. |
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| Favorite hobbies |
I was a team player in Ring Tennikoit from my
fifth form till my college days. Playing games was my hobby, and I
still play Scrabble a lot.
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Posted on 30th October 2001 |
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Madras
Music Mela 2001
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news, views and reviews |
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