Date:16/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121653010500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

‘Sangeetha Kalasarathy’ for Santhanagopalan

Special Correspondent

108th festival of
Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha
gets under way

CHENNAI: The 108th music festival of the Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha was inaugurated by Srirangam Srimath Andavan Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan Swami here on Monday.

In his message, Srimath Andavan said music and spiritualism were inseparable. This was evident from the Vedas and other scriptures. Music enthralled one and all, he said.

Srimath Andavan conferred the title, ‘Sangeetha Kalasarathy,’ on Neyveli R. Santhanagopalan.

It carried a shawl, a citation, a medallion with a cash purse of Rs. 5,000.

A. Natarajan, former Director of Doordarshan, said Mr. Santhanagopalan had created his own style. He had composed several ‘Kirthanas’ and translated Thyagaraja Krithis into Tamil.

Mr. Santhanagopalan said he was only an instrument to pass on the tradition of music to the next generation. There was always someone at every stage, who guided him while he learnt the music.

Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, president, and M. Krishnamurthy, secretary of the Sabha, spoke.