Thavil maestro Valayapatti A.R. Subramaniam has been chosen for this year’s Sangita Kalanidhi title of The Music Academy. The 68-year-old Subramaniam will receive the title at the 83rd annual music conference and concerts of the Academy, which begins here on December 15.
He will be the first thavil artiste to be awarded this title.
This decision was taken at the executive committee meeting of the Academy here on Sunday. The decsion on Subramaniam was unanimous. In a path-breaking move, the Academy has also decided to invite world chess champion Viswanathan Anand to inaugurate this year's festival.
As is the convention, Subramaniam, the Sangita Kalanidhi-designate, will preside over the annual conference and concerts. The award will be conferred on him on January 1, 2010, the day of the sadas.
The Academy had in the past honoured nagaswaram vidwans with the Sangita Kalanidhi title. The list of those who had been honoured with the title include Thiruveezhimizhalai Subramania Pillai, Thiruvidaimaruthur Veerusamy Pillai and Sheik Chinna Moulana. This is indeed the first time that a thavil artiste has been chosen for this prestigious title.
Born in Valayapatti in Pudukottai district, Subramaniam learnt nagaswaram from his father Arumugam before switching over to thavil. His guru was Mannargudi Rajagopala Pillai.
He had accompanied nagaswaram vidwans such as the Thiruveezhimizhalai brothers, the Sembanarkoil brothers, Karukurichi P. Arunachalam and Namagiripettai Krishnan. He had also accompanied Thirumeignanam Nataraja Sundaram Pillai.
Following are the feelings of Veterans about Sri Valayappatti (Courtesy: The Hindu).
Veterans express their appreciation for the Music Academy's choice of Valayapatti Subramaniam for Sangita Kalanidhi, to be conferred at the Sadas on January 1, 2010.
Valayapatti A.R. Subramaniam, the Sangita Kalanidhi for 2009 at The Music Academy is the first thavil vidwan to be honoured with the much coveted title. A cross-section of vidwans, including Sangita Kalanidhis, have appreciated the Music Academy's gesture in choosing a renowned Thavil vidwan to preside over this year's conference. Excerpts:
Sangita Kalanidhi M. Balamuralikrishna: Well, Valayapatti and the Thavil can be likened to the epic pairs - Lord Muruga and his Vel (spear) and Lord Rama and his Vil (bow).
Violin maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman: Thavil is indispensable for a nagaswaram concert. Valayapatti Subramaniam represents the renaissance of the Thavil with his innovations. He has given it a special status.
Nagaswara Vidwans Sembonar Kovil Brothers S.R.G.Sambandam-S.R.G.Rajanna:
It is God's grace that he has been blessed with a good nadam in both the hands. His sounding on both the topi and valanthalai side is something unique. He has given the Thavil a universal recognition.Sangita Kalanidhi T.K. Govinda Rao: I have known Valayapatti since his early days and been keenly observing his playing since then. Of the top ranking vidwans playing the Thavil, he has earned a reputation for his varied styles.
Sangita Kalanidhi T.V. Sankaranarayanan: Valayapatti has carved a niche for himself in the musical firmament. His perfect poise on stage, the erect posture, the supreme self-assurance born out of hard practice all through the years, the brilliant and effortless execution of ‘Nadai Bedhams,' astounding sound clarity have all made him a Thavil vidwan par excellence.
Sangita Kalanidhi Vellore G. Ramabhadran: I was first introduced to Valayapatti when he was a young man by (flute) T. Viswanathan. After listening to him I knew he would one day become a star in the field and it is now proved.
Sangita Kalanidhi A.K.C. Natarajan: There have been many Jambavans in the thavil field prior to Valayapatti such as Needamangalam Meenakshisundaram Pillai, Nachiar Koil Raghava Pillai and Valangaiman Shanmugasundaram Pillai to name a few. Following in their footsteps Valayapatti has innovated many modern sollus. It was he who gave the Thavil a special status by playing thani for more than an hour. His music pleased both learned and uninitiated.
Mridangam maestro Guru Karaikkudi Mani: Valayapatti made the public turn to him with his electrifying style. Many youngsters started following him. I still remember Valangaiman's compliment: “His art is entirely different with its unique nadam.” There were days when we wouldn't miss any of his concerts, mainly to analyse his innovations.
SANGITA KALANIDHI WINNERS
| 1929 | Sri T.V. Subba Rao, Vidvan T.S. Sabhesa Iyer and Sri M.S. Ramaswamy Iyer | 1970 | Vidushi D.K. Pattammal |
| 1930 | Gayaka Sikhamani Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar and Sri B. Subba Rao | 1971 | Vidvan Papanasam Si van |
| 1931 | Gayaka Siromani Swaminatha Iyer of Pazhamaneri | 1972 | Prof. P. Sambamoorthy |
| 1932 | Vidvan Tiger K. Varadachariar | 1973 | Vidushi T. Balasaraswati |
| 1933 | Vidvan K. Ponnayya Pillai | 1974 | Sri R. Anantakrishna Sarma |
| 1934 | Vidvan T.S. Sabhesa Iyer | 1976 | Vidushi T. Brinda |
| 1935 | Vidvan Sangita Sastra Ratna Mysore K. Vasudevachar | 1977 | Vidushi M.L. Vasanthakumari |
| 1936 | Vidvan Swaminatha Iyer of Umayalpuram | 1978 | Vidvan Balamurali Krishna |
| 1937 | Vidvan Brahmasri Chidambara Bhagavatar of Agara Mangudi | 1979 | Vidvan K.S. Narayanaswamy |
| 1938 | Gayaka Sikhamani Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar | 1980 | Vidvan T.N. Krishnan |
| 1939 | Vidvan Musiri Subramania Iyer | 1981 | Vidvan T.M. Thyagarajan |
| 1940 | Vidvan Vedanta Bhagavatar of Kallidaikurichi | 1982 | Vidvan Embar S.Vijayaraghavachariar |
| 1941 | Prof. D. Venkataswami Naidu | 1983 | Vidvan Dr.S. Pinakapani |
| 1942 | Vidvan Subbarama Bhagavatar of Mazhavarayanendal | 1984 | Vidvan Mysore V Doreswamy Iyengar |
| 1943 | Vidvan Palladam Sanjiva Rao | 1985 | Vidvan Dr.S. Ramanathan |
| 1944 | Sri T.L. Venkatarama Iyer | 1986 | Vidvan K.V Narayanaswamy |
| 1945 | Vidvan Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer | 1987 | Vidvan B. Rajam Iyer |
| 1947 | Rajasevanirata Semmangudi R.Srinivasa Iyer | 1988 | Vidvan T. Viswanathan |
| 1948 | Vidvan Rajamanickam Pillai | 1989 | Vidvan Maharajapuram V.Santhanam |
| 1949 | Vidvan Mudikondan C. Venkatarama Iyer | 1990 | Vidvan D.K. Jayaraman |
| 1950 | Vidvan Karur Chinnaswamy Iyer | 1991 | Vidvan Nedunuri Krishnamurthy |
| 1951 | Vidvan Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar | 1992 | Vidvan Thanjai K.P. Sivanandam |
| 1952 | Vidvan Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer | 1993 | Vidushi Mani Krishnaswami |
| 1953 | Vidvan Tirupampuram N.Swaminatha Pillai | 1994 | Vidvan T.K. Murthy |
| 1954 | Vidvan Chittoor Subramanya Pillai | 1995 | Vidvan R.K. Srikantan |
| 1955 | Vidvan Marungapuri Gopalakrishna Iyer | 1996 | Vidvan Dr. N. Ramani |
| 1956 | Nagasvara Vidvan Tiruvizhimizhalai Subramanya Pillai | 1997 | Vidvan M.S. Gopalakrishnan |
| 1957 | Vidvan T. Chowdiah | 1998 | Nagasvara Dr. Sheik Chinna Moula |
| 1958 | Vidvan G.N. Balasubramanyam | 1999 | Vidvan T.K. Govinda Rao |
| 1959 | Vidvan Madurai Mani Iyer | 2000 | Vidushi R. Vedavalli |
| 1960 | Vidvan T.K. Jayarama Iyer | 2001 | Vidvan Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman |
| 1961 | Nagasvara Vidvan Thiruvidamarudur Veerusami Pillai | 2002 | Vidushis Sikkil Smt. Kunjumani & Neela (Sikkil Sisters) |
| 1962 | Vidvan K.S. Papa Venkataramiah | 2003 | Vidvan T.V Sankaranarayanan |
| 1963 | Vidvan Budalur Krishnamurthi Sastrigal | 2004 | Vidvan Vellore G. Ramabadran |
| 1964 | Vidvan A lathur Sivasubramanya Iyer | 2005 | Vidvan M. Chandrasekaran |
| 1965 | Vidvan Alathur Srinivasa Iyer | 2006 | Vidvan Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan |
| 1966 | Vidvan T.S. Mani Iyer | 2007 | Vidvan Palaghat R. Raghu |
| 1968 | Vidushi M.S. Subbulakshmi | 2008 | Vidvan Shri A.K.C. Natarajan |
| 1969 | Vidvan Madurai Srirangam Iyengar |
