Date:24/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112457740200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Veteran musicians honoured with Arsha Kala Bhushanam awards

Special Correspondent

CD on compositions of Muthuswami Dikshithar released

— PHOTO: S. R. RAGHUNATHAN

Legendary: Dayananda Saraswati (third from left) with ‘Arsha Kala Bhushanam’ awardees (from left) Lalgudi. G. Jayaraman, B. Rajam Iyer, T.N. Krishnan, T.K. Murthy and Kalpakam Swaminathan in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: A musician should know the meaning of the lyrics and identify with it to ensure that the audience is appreciative, Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Coimbatore, said here on Sunday.

He was speaking at a function organised by Arsha Kalarangam - the cultural wing of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, where the ‘Arsha Kala Bhushanam’ award was conferred upon five veteran musicians - vocalist B. Rajam Iyer, violinists T.N. Krishnan and Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, mridangam exponent T.K. Murthy and veena exponent Kalpakam Swaminathan.

The awardees were chosen for their significant contribution to the arts. By teaching, performing and perfecting their art that had helped to transport millions to another world and have glimpse of divinity that only music can provide, he said.

Performing musicians should talk about the raga that they propose to perform. That would help a lay listener reach out to the bhavana of the composition more easily even if he is not able to identify the ragas. An educated audience will be appreciative of the performance, he told a gathering of music lovers.

Carnatic music demands high amount of creativity as one has to confine oneself to a defined raga and captivate the audience. The awardees, who had been performing for nearly six to seven decades in various platforms, have been imparting their knowledge to younger generations for several decades.

The award included a citation, shawl and cash.

A CD on the lesser known compositions of Muthuswami Dikshithar was also released at the occasion. According to Kannikeshwaran, who has prepared the album, the compositions were created by the revered composer, incorporating the Celtic, Waltz and Irish music that were brought into India during the British colonisation.