Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Indian singer (1928–1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari (3 July 1928 – 31 October 1990), commonly referred to as MLV, was an Indian Carnatic musician[1] and a playback singer for films which had used several South Asian languages. She and her contemporaries, D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi, are often referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic music.[2] A prime disciple of G. N. Balasubramaniam, she was the youngest among the established musicians of that era and the youngest female to receive the Sangita Kalanidhi award.[3] In 1967, the government of India honored her with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award. Her daughter, the late Srividya, was an actress in Tamil and Malayalam films.
Vasanthakumari also had a notable career as a playback singer for films. She popularized lesser-known ragas, and her RTPs were regarded as cerebral.[4] Additionally, she popularized the compositions of the Haridasas. Her disciples include her daughter Srividya, Sudha Raghunathan, Charumathi Ramachandran, and A. Kanyakumari.[5]
Remove ads
Early life
Vasanthakumari was born into a musical family. Her father, Kuthanur Ayya Swamy Iyer, and her mother, Lalithangi, were musicians.[6] When Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das died in 1925, Lalithangi composed a song as a tribute to his patriotism.
Vasanthakumari received her education in a convent school in Madras (now Chennai), where she initially planned to pursue a career in medicine. However, her path took a turn when Carnatic musician G. N. Balasubramaniam, popularly known as GNB, became her guru. In her own words:
"My parents had rendered yeoman service to Carnatic music. They were instrumental in popularizing the compositions of Purandara Dasa in South India. Although they were not keen on my pursuing a career in music and instead provided me with a general education, the musical atmosphere at home gave me ample opportunity to practice vocal music. When G. N. Balasubramaniam heard me sing, he convinced my parents to allow him to tutor me. It is he who is responsible for the position I hold in the music world today."[citation needed]
Remove ads
Performing and recording career
Summarize
Perspective
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (January 2016) |
At the age of 12, M. L. Vasanthakumari made her debut in 1940 by accompanying her mother, Lalithangi, in a recital. In 1942, she gave her first solo performance in Bengaluru and recorded her first 78-rpm disc. By 1950, she was performing regularly on stage. [7][8]
Musical style
Vasanthakumari was influenced by her mentor G. N. Balasubramaniam.[9] Musicologist Indira Menon noted that Vasanthakumari adopted Balasubramaniam’s approach of introducing a raga with a quick sketch across two octaves, followed by a more detailed elaboration. Menon observed that she used vocal ornamentation (brigas) selectively and exercised restraint in her performance. Balasubramaniam himself remarked, "Vasanthi typifies real discipleship—she absorbs all but presents her own glorious creations."[10]
Purandaradasa tradition
Lalithangi performed a repertoire of Purandaradasa kritis, many of which she taught to her daughter, M. L. Vasanthakumari. Vasanthakumari later included these compositions in her performances, contributing to the wider dissemination of Purandara Dasa's Devaranamas.[11] This contribution has been likened to T. Brinda's role in popularizing Kshetrayya Padams and M. S. Subbalakshmi’s efforts with Annamacharya kritis.
Sindhubhairavi
Vasanthakumari helped spread the compositions of Narayana Teertha's Kalyana Gopalam and Purandaradasa's Venkatachala Nilayam in Sindhubhairavi raga. Hindustani maestro Bade Ghulam Ali Khan praised her for her music. Sudha Raghunathan mentioned, "MLV Amma has told me that it was Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saab who taught her the nuances of Sindhu Bhairavi in the Hindustani style."[4]
Playback singing
By 1946, Vasanthakumari was also a playback singer.[4] Her first successful performance was in the 1951 film Manamagal, where she sang the song Ellam Inbamayam in Ragamalika and Subramania Bharathiyar's composition, Chinnanchiru Kiliyae Kannamma. In the 1960 film Raja Desingu, she sang another Ragamalika, Paarkadal Alaimele, which was well-received and later became popular in Bharatanatyam recitals. In later years, she would sing these songs towards the end of her Carnatic music concerts, and several musicians include them in their repertoire today.[12]
Vasanthakumari also sang Ayya Saami in the 1951 film, Or Iravu. This song was based on the song Gore Gore O Banke Chhore from the film Samaadhi, which was in turn based on the Latin American song Chico Chico from Puerto Rico, featured in the film Cuban Pete. In the 1952 film Thai Ullam, she sang Konjum Purave, which was based on the Hindi song Thandi Havayen.[12] Other songs included Adisayam Vanathu Arivumayam, Senthamarai Kannanae, Vanna Tamizh, and Adum Arul Jothi in the films Vikramaadhithan, Vaira Maalai, and Sornakili. Incidentally, each of these songs contained the Kalyani raga and were well-received.[12]
Vasanthakumari sang the Dashaavataara songs for Bhookailas like Munneeta Pavalinchu, while Kumari Kamala danced in a classical style.[13] Vasanthakumari sang in films until 1970.[14]
Accompanists
Mridangam maestro Palghat Mani Iyer made an exception to a decision he had made early in his career not to accompany a female performer and accompanied Vasanthakumari to concerts. Other accompanists include Mannargudi Easwaran, Srimushnam V. Raja Rao, Seerkazhi J. Skandaprasad, Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam, R. Ramesh, Karaikudi Krishnamurthy, G. Harishankar (kanjira), Dwaram Mangathayaru (violin), Kannyakumari (violin).
Remove ads
Family
Vasanthakumari married Kalaimamani Vikatam R. Krishnamurthy in 1951. They had a son, Krishnamurthy Sankararaman, and a daughter, Srividya.[15]
Disciples
Saraswathi Srinivasan (b. 1936) was the first disciple of Vasanthakumari. After her marriage, the two performed in concerts together.[16]
Awards
Remove ads
Death
Summarize
Perspective
Vasanthakumaroi died of cancer in 1990 at the age of 62.
Collaborations with music composers
Vasanthakumari worked under C. R. Subbaraman, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, G. Ramanathan, S. Dakshinamurthi, K. V. Mahadevan, Vedha, V. Nagayya, Pendyala Nageshwara Rao, T. Chalapathi Rao, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, S. Rajeswara Rao, R. Sudarsanam, R. Govardhanam, T. R. Pappa, S. V. Venkatraman, Kunnakudi Venkatrama Iyer, G. Aswathama, T. A. Kalyanam, M. S. Gnanamani, C. N. Pandurangan, C. S. Jayaraman, G. Govindarajulu Naidu, T. G. Lingappa, K. G. Moorthy, Ghantasala, Master Venu, G. Aswathama, V. Dakshinamoorthy, G. Devarajan, K. Raghavan and Shankar–Jaikishan.
Collaborations with playback singers
Vasanthakumari sang duets mostly with Thiruchi Loganathan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan and A. M. Rajah. Others are M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, V. N. Sundaram, T. R. Mahalingam, T. A. Mothi, C. R. Subburaman, C. S. Jayaraman, Ghantasala, G. K. Venkatesh, T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas, K. S. George, V. Dakshinamoorthy, and K. J. Yesudas.
She also sang duets with female singers, most notably with P. Leela and N. L. Ganasaraswathi. Others are A. P. Komala, T. S. Bagavathi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam, Radha Jayalakshmi, P. A. Periyanayaki, P. Bhanumathi, K. Jamuna Rani and A. G. Rathnamala.
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads