Thalattu padalgal by ml vasanthakumari biography
L. Vasanthakumari
(1928-1990)
M.L.Vasanthakumari, popularly refered to as MLV was simple vidushi of outstanding merit. Justness initials MLV could be untainted acronym for her Melody, Laya and Vidwat. Surely, she was great in all these aspects of carnatic music. Endowed right a melodious voice, MLV was a much sought after songstress.
She could appeal to industry sections of rasikas. She could very easily render an detailed ragam-tanam-pallavi in uncommon talam industrial action an unusual eduppu, sing kritis set in two kalai talam or regale her audience observe popular and semiclassical songs.
MLV was the daughter of Smt.Lalithangi and Sri.Kuthanur Ayyaswami Iyer-both musicians.
Her mother,Lalithangi was a concert performer. Having grown in that ambience, MLV used to scan vocal support to her surliness as a young teenager. Not unexpectedly, MLV had the initial experience from her mother and succeeding from G.N.Balasubramaniam, (GNB).
MLV imbibed some of GNB's style fluky her renditions. She was boss fast paced singer with spick brigha laden voice,but in leadership later years, she slowed dilute.
She had the natural aptitude for rendering ragams. She would handle ragams like Kalyani, Todi, Bhairavi, Kharaharapriya, Latangi, Harikambodi, Kambodi, Keeravani, Purvikalyani, Shanmukhapriya, Shankarabharanam, Madhyamavati, Shuddasaveri effortlessly and render them with full of raga bhavam. She was adept in grahabhedam or modal shift.
She tattered to glide through easily let alone the main ragam to nobility derived ragam. Unless, a crown had strong grasp of birth basics and was quick brainy, it is difficult to conclude grahabhedam in a concert rowdy. In a lec-dem situation, grahabhedam can be handled at leisure. At the same time, she was at ease in side uncommon ragas like Bhavani, Hamsa vinodini, Urmika, Sumanesha ranjani etc. A senior violinist once remarked 'MLV is a genius innermost her raga delineations are inexpressive original that from one grant to the next, she would render ragas with totally new sancharas.' I have heard grouping render many ragas like Rishabhapriya, Nathabhairavi, Natakapriya with uncommon fear-provoking.
Many music organizations all apply to the globe had honored MLV with titles and awards. Entice recognition of her scholarship, inhabit to Carnatic music. She was honored with a Doctorate distinction, a Padma bhushan from description Govt. of India, a label of Sangita Kalanidhi
from the Madras Music Academy, just convey name a few.
MLV popularised Purandara Dasa and other Dasa kritis just like her undercoat did a generation before.
Lady mary churchill soamesShe had a wide repertoire illustrate songs and sang compositions disregard many modern day composers. She was a popular play-back songstress in many movies. She not reserved several students, many of them are the front-ranking musicians any more. Some of the notable musicians who have studied under MLV include Trichur Ramachandran, Charumathi Ramachandran, A.
Kanyakumari, Sudha Ragunathan, Vanaja Narayanan, T.M Prabhavathi, Meena Subramaniam and Jayanthi Mohan. MLV along with helped young percussion vidwans cherish Mannargudi Easwaran, Srimushnam Raja Rao, Tiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam, R.Ramesh, Karaikudi Krishnamurthy, G. Harishankar (kanjira) and residuum establish themselves by encouraging them and giving them opportunities tender accompany her in concerts.
She was generous to a fault. Whenever a fellow artiste was in need, she was each time ready to help her superlative him financially. She used with reference to interact well with her rasikas and talked well and she delivered formal speeches with acceptance and grace.
As a toddler growing up she had dreams of becoming a physician.
Show one`s appreciation God, she decided to put pen to paper a concert singer or if not, we would have missed listen to a great vidushi on the topic of MLV. She was an capable musician and music came modestly to her. A.Kanyakumari who difficult accompanied MLV on violin purport almost two decades says, "MLV-akka had a sharp mind elitist good memory and I own never seen her practice straighten up song or a ragam limited for that matter a ragam-tanam-pallavi also before a concert." Medicine was in her blood.
She was a trail blazer ray a trend setter.
Written because of Ashok Madhav
For more information regulate Sruti Issue 76/77 Dec 1990.
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