Musical Anecdotes –34
34— A.Kanyakumari ( 1951....)
A.Kanyakumari is a native of Vizianagaram, and has been living in Chennai for over 4 decades. Her tryst with the violin began at a very early age during when she came under the tutelage of Vijayeswara Rao and later from M. Chandrasekharan. The watershed in her career came in 1972, when her musical genius was given due recognition by the late Dr. M.L. Vasantha Kumari (MLV). Kanyakumari went on to accompany MLV on her concert tours for the next 19 years.
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"I am from Vizianagaram in AP. I was the first student of the Dwaram Narasinga Rao Memorial Music School where I learnt for 6 years. Side by side I did my Diploma in Music and passed out with a Distinction. Later I joined the Queen Mary's College to do a B.A.Degree course in Music. A Central Cultural Scholarship gave me the opportunity to train under Sri.M.Chandrashekaran. Then in 1971 Charumathy Ramachandran's mother introduced me to MLV Amma. Thereafter I mostly accompanied her, though I also accompanied Mali, DKP, Balamurali Krishna, Ramani, Sikkil Sisters and Kadri Gopalnath."
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That famous critic Subbudu compared her music to the ever glittering diamond stud in the nose ring of the Goddess Kanyakumari. She has evolved her own style of melodious playing and silken bowing which closely resembles vocal music rhapsodising audiences all over. Her Bani is a combination of the Dwaram School, M.Chandrashekaran's, MLV's and her own.
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She has several successful creative innovations to her credit. A few are-- "Vadya Lahari" her brain child --- a new combo of the Violin, the Veena and Nagaswaram; "Tristhayi sangamam" is the confluence of 3 violins playing in different octaves portraying a special dimension; "Carnatic Music Ensembles" of 25, 50, 75 and 100 violins as well as 100 instrument ensemble commemorating the millennium; a music piece "100 Ragamalika Swarams" which reveals her skill in bringing out the Raga swaroopam in just one avarthana each and Twenty-nine hours non- stop marathon performance. Recently she has composed 7 ragas bearing the names of the 7 hills of Thirumala.
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Awards won by her include Padma Shri, Kalaimamani, Ugadi Puraskar,Honorary citizenship of the state of Maryland,U.S, the TTK Award from the Music Academy,Asthana Viidushi of Sringeri Sarada Peetam, Ahobila Mutt and Avadhoota Peetam " Saptagiri
Sangeetha vidwanmani from Sri Tyagaraja Festival Committee of Tirupathi, Sangeeta Kala Nipuna, Sangeeta Natak Akademi Award, Sangeeta Chudamani Award .She was selected for Limca Book of Records 2004 for her various achievements in music as a versatile woman violinist.
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She is a dedicated teacher and has distinguished students in India and abroad. She has also released Violin Lessons Tutorial VCD's for students who do not have access to learn directly from a guru.
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Kanyakumari has made special mention about a MLV concert that had taken place in Delhi. There was a technical objection in the grade-status of Kanyakumari who was to accompany MLV. She was yet to attain the requisite grade. MLV declared - "If that is the case let Kanyakumari attain that position officially and my recording can be done at that time, only and only with her, not now." Finally the concert went on "AIR" with Kanyakumari as the accompanist on the very day it was scheduled. MLV had won her way and Kanyakumari too. "How many people in this world would act with such integrity and warmth?" Kanyakumari asked and herself answered "None would."
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During her 1980 US tour, a Minneapolis violin collector who was amongst the audience, struck by her sterling performance, presented Kanyakumari with a violin from his collection. In 1990 Kanyakumari performed at the Tansen Utsav in New Delhi. The celebrated Sarod Maestro musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khan after hearing Kanyakumari's concert, in a rare gesture, draped her with the same shawl that he was honored with on the same stage saying, "You played exceedingly well. Let us have a Jugalbandi".
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In 1988, Kanyakumari performed a rare feat at the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum. She played the violin for 29 continuous hours, an unofficial world record. Commemorating Kanyakumari's 25 years in concerts, M.S. Subbalakshmi honored her with the title Dhanurveena Praveena. Prasanna, a carnatic guitarist and Embar Kannan are two of her students who are already making waves in the Carnatic music circle. "Vadyalahiri and 25 Violins" are amongst the discs that Kanyakumari has recorded.
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She has flooded the world with her performances at USA, Canada, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Known for her high tonal quality and silken bowing, her dedication to teaching has made her a most sought after teacher, which she does without charging a fee for talented students, just like her Guru M L V.
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. A staunch believer in God, Kanyakumari wears only saffron colored sarees, like a sanyasin. There is another side to her personality that may not be so obvious and that is her penchant for philanthropy. She is known to have helped many musicians and their families. During the Kargil war, she along with Sri.Kadri Gopalnath rallied all the musicians and helped raise over Rupees 6 lakhs by holding an Akhandam.
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She was inspired by Balamuralikrishna for his swarakalpana, rich imagination and creativity; Mandolin Srinivas and Kadiri Gopalnath for what they have achieved in their respective instruments. Sikkil sisters and Dr.Ramani have also inspired her.Accompanying an instrument is always more challenging, according to her. Vocalists will go on singing the keertanam and they have always been accompanied by violinists. There may not be much scope for the accompanist too.
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She started "Vasanthapriya" along with her friend Brinda Venkatraman in 1992. Every year they held an Akhandam performed by women. The first year it was for 24 hours; thereafter it has been for 12 hours.
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