Sangita Kalanidhi
R.K. Srikantan |
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Vidwan R.K. Srikantan was born in 1920 to a
distinguished traditional family of musicians of Rudrapatna in Hassan district in
Karnataka which is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery.
He was felicitated and honored with the title
Karanataka Sangeeta Ratna under the joint auspices of Sri Parthasarathy Sabha,
Forum of music lovers and Saraswati Gana Sabha, Bangalore in 1978. |
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Childhood & Education |
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Srikantan is the youngest son of Late Sri Krishnasastry
who was a great scholar in Sanskrit and Kannada, a noted poet, versatile artist and also
a Harikatha Vidwan. Srikantan's grand father Sri Narayanappa of Bettadapur was also a
great musician and a very close friend of Sri Veena Sheshanna of Mysore.
After taking initial lessons of music from his
father at a tender age and later from his illustrious brother, ikantan came under the
influence of all leading musicians of yore from the south.
The noteworthy features of Srikantan's music are
strict adherence to Sruti, clear cut pronunciation of the text and equal emphasis
on rhythm with simultaneous concentration on Bhava and Bhakti aspects of music.
In fact he can be safely considered to be the last of the surviving veterans of
traditional Carnatic vocal music in Karnataka. |
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Performance |
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Srikantan has been particularly instrumental in
giving wide popularity to the Devaranamas of all Haridasas and especially of
Purandaradasa throughout the country by his accurate rendering of the songs
investing them with depth of tone and continuity of flow. Srikantan has been performing
for over five decades throughout the length and breadth of the country in all leading
sabhas and festival series. He has been featured in National programmes and also in the
Radio Sangeetha Sammelan programmes several times and thus he has contributed
significantly to the enrichment of this divine art. It is also a matter of pride
that Sri Srikantan belongs to the Tyagaraja Shishya Parampara (Sri Thyagaraja - Walajapet
Venkataramana Bhagavathar - Mysore Sadasiva Rao - Veena Subbanna - R.K. Venkataramasastry
- R.K. Srikantan).
Apart from being a great performer, Srikantan has
another distinction to his credit, that of being a very great teacher which is amply
testified by a school of knowledgeable disciples, including Srikantan's own son
Sri R.S. Ramakanth, Smt. Rathnamala Prakash, M.S. Sheela, T.S. Sathyavathi and others.
By this Srikantan has joined the select band of master performers cum teachers like
Tiger Varadachar, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Musiri Subramanya Iyer. |
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Honours conferred on him |
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An arts graduate from Mysore university (1947),
Srikantan has been the recipient of many awards and titles in recognition of his outstanding
merit and services to the cause of music.
* He was invited in 1985 and 1986 by the Sri Venkateswara Temple Committee, Pittusburgh,
U.S.A. for teaching assignment and also to give a series of concerts across U.S.A.
* He was honoured with the title Gana Bhaskara by Annavasathi Sangha, Bangalore in 1947.
* He was honoured by the Bangalore city corporation as the Best Teacher in 1973.
* He was honoured with the title Ganakala Praveen by the Guru Seva Mandali, Bangalore in 1976.
* He was felicitated and honoured with the title Karanataka Sangeeta Ratna under the joint
auspices of Sri. Parthasarathy Sabha, Forum of music lovers and Saraswati Gana Sabha,
Bangalore in 1978.
* He won the coveted National Award (Central Sangeeth Natak Academy Award) for the
year 1979 by the Government of India followed by the State Award (State Sangeetha Academy
Award) in the year 1981 by the Government of Karnataka.
* He was unanimously selected to preside over the 13th Musician Conference under the
auspices of the Bangalore Gayana Samaja and conferred the title Sangeetha Kala Ratna
in the year 1981.
* He was conferred with the title Gayakachoodamani by the Tulaseevana Sangeetha
Parishath, Trivendrum, in 1983.
* He was conferred with the T.T.K. Memorial Award by the Music Academy, Madras in 1983
as the best Musician.
* He was awarded the 1991 Haridasa Award by the Purandara Pratishthana, B'lore.
* He was awarded the Palant Subramanya Pillai Award by Percussive Art Centre, B'lore
in 1992.
* Chowdaiah National Level Award by Academy of Music, 1994.
* Saptagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani by Thyagaraja Trust, Tirupathi, 1994.
* Karnataka Rajya Sangeetha Vidwan by Govt. of Karnataka in the year 1994.
* Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1996 by the music Academy, Madras.
* Kanaka-Purandara award by Govt. of Karnataka in 1997.
In addition to this Srikantan has been serving the cause of music of a member of expert's
committee of music Academy, for six years. He retired as the music Producer of A.I.R, B'Lore
after a meritorious service of 32 years. He is a Top Ranking Artist in the A.I.R
artist gradation. He has given more lecture demonstrations in all leading sabhas of the
country. He was appointed as the visiting professor by the Government of Kerala in the
Government Music College, Palghat.
In 1986 he was invited as the Visiting Professor by the department of Oriental Music,
University of York, Toronto for a six month teaching assignment. |
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