Violinist N. Rajam presents the Sangita Kalanidhi Award to RK Shriramkumar at Sadas Music Academy on January 1, 2025. N. Murali, president of the academy, is seen | Photo credit: R. Ragu
Noted Hindustani violinist N. Rajam on Thursday (Jan 1, 2025) advised music students to continue their practice continuously and without interruption, saying it will continue to open doors they never expected.
Presenting the Sangita Kalanidhi Award to violinist RK Shriramkumar on the occasion of Sadas at the Music Academy, Chennai, Mrs. Rajam, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts, Banaras Hindu University, said that even after more than 85 years of rigorous practice, she still feels like a sadhana.
Presenting the award, she urged the audience to give a standing ovation to Mr. Shriramkumar, the keertana expert of Muthuswami Dikshitara.
“Music is such an unfathomable ocean – Carnatic or Hindustani, North or South. What we learn in one lifetime is just a grain of that ocean. I strongly feel that all the great musicians we come across, with amazing expertise, must have practiced this art for multiple births,” said Ms. Rajam, recalling her concert-going days as a child.
She said she would sit in the last row of the Academy and try to observe and absorb the skilled musicians rendering the complex Ragam–Tanam–Pallavi. “Right after the concert, I ran home, where my father was impatiently waiting for me. I literally translated the pallavi, anulomam and pratilomam line. I only rested when my father approved what I had absorbed,” she recalled.
She also praised the Music Academy’s century-long service to the cause of music and the music school associated with it.
Academy President N. Murali said it was at Banaras Hindu University that Ms. Rajam decided to take up Hindustani music, having previously listened to the recordings of Pt. Omkarnath Thakur. Mrs. Rajam, sister of noted violinist TN Krishnan, later became a student of Pt. Thakur.
“Prior to her, the violin was not a true accompaniment in Hindustani music. Moreover, the instrumentalists in this system played the accompaniments in a style different from the gayaki style adopted by Rajam. She thus played a pioneering role in introducing the gayaki style to the Hindustani violin,” said Murali.
He also praised the teamwork of his colleagues, staff, volunteers and scouts who contributed to the success of the music season.
Player Thavil TR Govindarajan and musician Shyamala Venkateswaran received the Sangita Kala Acharya award. Kathakali musician Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri and veena-playing couple JT Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan received the TTK award. Professor CA Sreedhara won the musicologist award.
Prizes were presented to the winners of various competitions. N. Ramji, Secretary of the Academy proposed the vote of thanks.
Published – 1 Jan 2026 23:02 IST
