M.L. Vasanthakumari

Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari (3 July 192831 October 1990), commonly referred to as MLV, was an Indian Carnatic musician 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.. ''The Hindu'' (4 August 2003) 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. 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.

As well as being a sought-after playback singer for films, Vasanthakumari popularized lesser-known ''ragas'', and her RTPs were regarded as cerebral.. ''The Hindu'' (4 July 2003) Additionally, she popularized the compositions of the Haridasas. Her disciples include her daughter Srividya, Sudha Raghunathan, Charumathi Ramachandran, and A. Kanyakumari.Calutta K.S. Krishnamurthi, 'Sruti' Issue 75–76 December 1990 – January 1991

Early life

Vasanthakumari was born into a musical family. Her father, Kuthanur Ayya Swamy Iyer, and her mother, Lalithangi, were musicians. 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."''

Performing and recording career

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.

Musical style

Vasanthakumari was influenced by her mentor G. N. Balasubramaniam.Calutta K.S. Krishnamurthi, 'Sruti' Issue 98 Nov 1992 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, avoiding excess despite her vocal capabilities. Balasubramaniam himself remarked that she exemplified real discipleship by internalizing his teachings while developing her own interpretations, commenting, "Vasanthi typifies real discipleship—she absorbs all but presents her own glorious creations."

Purandaradasa tradition

Lalithangi was known for her repertoire of Purandaradasa kritis, which she transmitted to her daughter, M. L. Vasanthakumari. As a result, Vasanthakumari contributed to bringing Purandara Dasa's Devaranamas to wider audiences, in a comparable to T. Brinda, who brought Kshetrayya Padams to the public platform, and M. S. Subbalakshmi, who brought Annamacharya kritis to the public arena.

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."

Playback singing

By 1946, Vasanthakumari was also a playback singer. 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 also sing these songs towards the end of her Carnatic music concerts, and several musicians include them in their repertoire today.

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'' from the film, Cuban Pete. In the 1952 film, Thai Ullam, she sang ''Konjum Purave,'' which was based on the Hindi song ''Thandi Havayen.'' 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.

Vasanthakumari sang the Dashaavataara songs for '' Bhookailas'' like ''Munneeta Pavalinchu'', while Kumari Kamala danced in a classical style. Vasanthakumari sang in films until 1970.

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).

Family

Vasanthakumari married Kalaimamani Vikatam R. Krishnamurthy in 1951. They had a son, Krishnamurthy Sankararaman, and a daughter, Srividya.

Disciples

Saraswathi Srinivasan (b. 1936) was the first disciple of Vasanthakumari. After her marriage, the two performed in concerts together.

Awards

Death

Vasanthakumaroi died of cancer in 1990, age 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.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasanthakumari, M L
Women Carnatic singers
Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
Sangeetha Kalanidhi recipients
Singers from Chennai
Performers of Hindu music
Tamil playback singers
1928 births
1990 deaths
Indian women classical singers
20th-century Indian singers
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Indian women playback singers
20th-century Indian women singers
Women musicians from Tamil Nadu