Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyyer
In an age when experimentation, even in the classical arts, is deemed
fashionable, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer stands like a rock. A protector of the
purity in Carnatic music heritage. Born in 1908, Semmangudi started Carnatic
vocal training at eight. His first music recital was at the Kumbakonam
Nageswaraswami temple in 1926.
His performance at the Congress session at Chennai (the following year)
brought him to centre-stage. Besides his preservation of the classical vocal
tradition, Semmangudi's contribution has been in his editing and reviving the
songs of Maharaja Swati Tirunal. Generations of musicians have been taught and
nurtured by him.
Among his most celebrated pupils are M S Subbulakshmi, T N Krishnan, T M
Thyagarajan, P S Narayanaswami and Kadayanallur Venkatraman. Despite his
prodigious creative energies, Semmangudi avoided composing new songs. To him,
Carnatic Music will always be indebted for restoring the original beauty of the
classic compositions.
Semmangudi is the recipient of several awards. Notable among them - the
Sangeetha Kalanidhi title in 1947, the Padma Bushan in 1969 and the Padma
Vibushan in 1990.
