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Sulochana Pattabhiraman passes away

CHENNAI: Sulochana Pattabhiraman, Carnatic musician and eminent musicologist, passed away here on Wednesday morning after a brief illness. She was 76.

Known for her scholarship and encyclopaedic knowledge, Mrs. Pattabhiraman was a regular contributor to The Hindu Friday Review for many years. Her reviews were erudite, honest and unbiased and taken seriously by musicians.

A recipient of the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani award and the Music Academy’s Sangeeta Kala Acharya title, she was a revered guru, endearing herself to disciples with a simple, down-to-earth approach. Mrs. Pattabhiraman was a much-valued advisor for All-India Radio and was on the Advisory Committee of the Music Academy.

Mrs. Pattabhiraman’s music journey started in Tiruchi, where she spent her childhood taking lessons from illustrious vocalists R.V.Subramaniam and Kalyanakrishna Bhagavathar. Later, noted musician Sathur Subramaniam nurtured her aptitude for ragas.

When her family shifted to Chennai, she came under the tutelage of N. Balasubramaniam, disciple of the legendary GNB, Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. The association with Semmangudi was a turning point in her musical career as she inherited a great patanthara, which she happily passed on to enthusiastic students.

Mrs. Pattabhiraman worshipped tradition, but never hesitated to appreciate novelty in Carnatic music. “Improvise but never digress from the Rajpath,” was her favourite dictum. Gentle and soft spoken, she had a kind word for everyone. She was accessible to students and young musicians from different schools, encouraging anyone with talent irrespective of the style. “Point out mistakes, but couch your criticism in words that will not destroy enthusiasm,” she often told aspiring teachers and reviewers.

Though ill, she completed the review of the Music Academy concerts during Season 2007, which happened to be her last assignment.

B.R. Kumar, former AIR director and now Station Manager, Gyanvani, remembers Mrs. Pattabhiraman for her commitment and sincerity. “Her penchant for perfection was evident when she led her disciples in presenting the series Dakshina Gana Surabhi, a treasure trove,” he says.

Violin maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman describes “Sulochana maami” as a unique person who exuded warmth and affection to every one she knew and who treated disciples as her own children.

“We have lost an immensely knowledgeable rasika, an accomplished musician, a distinguished musicologist and an exceptional reviewer,” he says.

Violin exponent A. Kanyakumari says: “She was like a mother to me, filling the void left by my mentor MLV. I could turn to her for advice on all matters - music and personal.”

Mrs. Pattabhiraman is survived by her husband M.S. Pattabhiraman, sons Ramesh Pattabhiraman and P. Vasanthkumar and daughter Tara Murali, wife of N. Murali, Managing Director, The Hindu, and president of the Music Academy.

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