Date:10/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091061281300.htm

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Kunnakudi’s gesture recalled

NEW DELHI: Classical violinist Kunnakudi R. Vaidyanathan, who passed away on Monday, invited a musician from north India for the first time to perform in the prestigious Thyagaraja Music festival in Thiruvaiyaru.

“I am very sad to hear about the demise of Kunnakudi. He was not just a great violin player but it was only due to his efforts that I was able to play at the Thyagaraja music festival, the first north Indian to have done so,” sarod exponent Ustad Amjad Ali Khan said on Tuesday condoling his death.

“There is a rule that you can only play compositions by Tyagaraja at his samadhi and nothing else. I learnt the ‘Soga Suga Mridanga Talamu’ kirtana from a local musician to play at the festival,” recollected Amjad Ali. The maestro from Gwalior says he was touched by the late violinist’s gesture. “It was like a musical pilgrimage for me, ” he said.

The eight-day ‘Thyagaraja Aradhana’ music festival is held at Thiruvaiyaru, near Thanjavur every year to honour the 18th century saint and music composer. — PTI