|
Name |
Kunnankudi
R. Vaidhyanathan |
|
Birth
Name |
R.Vaidhyanathan
|
|
|
Date
of Birth |
2nd
March 1935 |
|
Date of Death |
8th September 2008 |
|
Mother
Tongue |
Tamil |
|
Religion |
Hindu |
|
Nationality |
Indian |
|
Profession |
Violinist,
Music Director, Actor, Producer, Singer |
|
Birth
place |
Kunnakudi,
Sivagangai |
|
Family |
Father
– Ramaswamy Sastry
Mother – Meenakshi
Wife - V. Bageeradhi
Sons
V.R. Shekar (Musician in A.R.Rahman's Troupe),
V. Srinivasan (Civil Engineer),
V. Sridhar (IT Engineer in USA),
V. Balasubramanian (Doctor in Australia)
Daughter - Bhanumathi Ramakrishnan
Son-in-law - Ramkrishnan (Director) |
|
Debut |
Music Director – ‘Vaa Raja Vaa’ (1969)
Producer, Actor – ‘Thodi Raagam’ |
|
His father |
* His father was
a scholar in Sanskrit, Tamil and Carnatic Music,
as well as a great composer and exponent of Kathakalakshepam. |
|
Known for |
* Dexterity and
subtlety in handling the violin
* Introducing novelties in his violin concerts
* Producing offbeat sounds from the violin |
|
Deep faith |
In therapeutical
merits of music |
|
His trademark
symbols |
Sacred Ash and a
big saffron dot smeared prominently on his forehead |
|
Famous for |
His experiments
on violin, which he refers as fingering techniques |
|
Performed concerts
in |
Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Malaysia |
|
Performed concerts
with |
* Maharajapuram
Santhanam
* Sooramangalam Sisters
* Seergazhi Govindarajan |
|
His play reflects |
* His different
moods
* Demands of his audience |
|
Positions |
* Secretary of ‘Tamil
Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram (Sangeetha Nataka
Academy)’ for several years
* President of ‘Raga Research Centre’.
* Secretary of Thyaga Bramha Sabha, in Tiruvaiyaru
at Thanjavur district, and organized the annual
Aradhana festival of the great Carnatic music
composer Saint Thyagaraja for 28 years. |
|
Titles |
* Sangeeta Mamani
* Carnatic Isai Gnani
* Violin Chakkravarthy
* Thirai Isai Mannan
* Bharata Violin Vadya Bhyaskara, given by Kunnakudi
Vaidyanathan's spiritual guru, Pudukotai Sadguru
Sree Santananda Swamigal of Bhuvaneswari Peetham.
* Deiviga Isai Tendral
* Innisai Vendar
* Isai Chakravarti, awarded by the Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Rasika Anbu Kuzhu, Madurai.
* Isai Perarignar, awarded by the Tamil Isai Sangam,
Madras.
* Kalaimamani, awarded by the Tamil Nadu Eyal
Isai Nataka Manram.
* Nada Brahmam, awarded by the Narada Gana Sabha,
Madras.
* Pannisai Arasu, awarded by the Tamizh Isai Sangam,
Tiruvaiyaru.
* Sangeeta Ratna, the Mysore Chowdiah memorial
award given by the Academy of Music, Bangalore.
* Sangeeta Sagaram, awarded by the Cultural Centre
for Performing Arts, Madras. Along with the title,
Vaidyanathan received a silver Violin.
* Tantrinadamani, awarded by the Sankaracharya
of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
* Varuna Mazhai Vaidyanathan, awarded in Salem
in recognition of his feat demonstrating that
music has the power of controlling nature.
* Villisai Vendan, awarded by the Nellai Rasanandam
Nalvazhi Nilayam, Madras.
* Violin Chakravarti, awarded by the Cholavandan
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Rasikar Anbu Kuzhu.
* Violin Everest, awarded by the organisers of
the Thiruvarur Kakithakara Street Mariamman Festival.
* Violin Kalaratna, awarded by the Tiruppavai-
Tiruvembavai Music School, Madurai, during its
anniversary celebrations.
* Violin Samrat, awarded by the Delhi Karnataka
Sangeeta Sabha.
* Yezhisai Chakravarti, awarded by the Priya Cultural
Academy, Madras.
* Yezhisai Enthal, awarded by the Sree Krishna
Chaitanya Math near Nagercoil.
* Violin Isai Chakravarti, awarded by the Federation
of Sabhas in 1992.
*Yeshisai Selvan |
|
Awards |
* Best Music Director
Award for ‘Thirumalai Thenkumari’ (1970)
* Padmashri" - 2005 - Government of India.
* State Artiste of the Tamil Nadu Governemnt (1984-1987).
* Doctorate from Annamalai University. |
|
Asthana Vidwan |
* Kanchi Kamakoti
Math.
* Sringeri Math.
* Tiruvavaduturai Adheenam.
* Darmapuram Adheenam.
* Kunnakudi Adheenam.
* Sri Raghavendra Swami Math, Manthralayam. |
|
Music |
* Started to perform
concerts at the age of 12.
* Accompanied Shri Ariyakudi, Shri Semmangudi
and Shri Maharajapuram and Nagaswara vidwans such
as T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai and Thiruvenkadu Subramania
Pillai at the age of 12.
* Entered into the movie industry through the
film orchestra of modern Theatres, Salem.
* His Carnatic base and light music knowledge
helped him to join in HMV as a freelance Music
Director mainly for producing Bhakthi Songs.
* His interest in new attempts and innovations
led him to work with veteran thavil vidwan Valayapatti
Subramanian and they have performed over 3,000
shows together.
* In the film ‘Deivam,’ he made all his playback
singers including Madurai Somu appear on the screen. |
|
Facts |
* The youngest of
four children.
* His son-in-law directed ‘Thodi Ragam’ film and
two of his relatives worked as light boys.
* Has composed music for more than 20 movies.
* Has received more than 200 awards.
* He learnt
Veda Sastram and Sangeetam
from his father.
|
