It is music time at Thiruvallikkeni – after the Chithirai Brahmothsavam, it is vidayarri (period of rest) for Sri Parthasarathi Perumal. Music kutchery by renowned people have been arranged. On day 1 of Vidayarri (14.5.2023) is was grand performance by Sri Rahul Vellal (vocal) accompanied by J Vaidyanathan, Mridangam, B Ananthakrishan Violin and Sunil on Kanjira.
Rahul Vellal, the child prodigy sang so mellifluously and thrilled the audience with his singing of choice keerthanas.
The man on Mridangam, his hairstyle and moustache appeared different – after enthralling audience, he gracefully posed for a picture outside the temple main entrance. The man, J. Vaidhyanathan (JV) an exponent of Mridangam was born in 1965. He was the first mridangum player to receive the Yuva Kala Bharathi Award, Vellore Gopalachariar Memorial award and Isai Peroli Award. He has also received several other awards including Kalaimamani the highest civilian award for artists in Tamil Nadu and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists.
He is the son of renowned Carnatic musician D. K. Jayaraman and J. Jayalakshmi, born in Damal near Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. He is the nephew of D. K. Pattammal – and has played accompanied to many famous Carnatic musicians like D.K. Jayaraman, D. K. Pattammal, M. S. Subbulakshmi, M. L. Vasanthakumari, K. V. Narayanaswamy, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. Balamuralikrishna, T. N. Krishnan, M. S. Gopalakrishnan, S. Balachander and Lalgudi Jayaraman. According to Wikipedia, his wife Poorna, holds a doctorate in music on Pattammal's music, has been a violin lecturer at the S. V. College of Music and Dance in Tirupati.
Damal Krishnaswamy Jayaraman (popularly known as DKJ), the renowned brother of D. K. Pattammal, was a professional Carnatic music singer. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1990.
The world of Carnatic music is an Ocean and I have lost more than 50 years without even trying to know some of that.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
15.5.2023.
