Papa Venkataramaih (1901–1972) was among the most prominent Indian violin players in the first half of the 20th century.

Playing Style

K. S. Venkataramaiah, known as 'Papa', was born on 12 September 1901 as the second son of violinist Karur Srikantiah. He learned violin under Chinnaswami Iyer (a recipient of Sangeeta Kalanidhi award) and Govindaswami Pillai. Papa was devoted to Veena Dhanammal school, and one of his first disciples was T. Abhiramasundari, sister of Brinda and Muktha, and granddaughter of Dhanammal. V P Raman, former Advocate General of Tamilnadu, evinced keen interest in Carnatic music and was an excellent violinist, who had his training under the great master Papa Venkataramaiah. Two of Papa's sons - V Thyagarajan and V Nagarajan - also became sought-after accompanists. V Tyagarajan (b 1927) made a name for himself as a violinist. Nagarajan (approx 1930 - 2002) was a left-handed Khanjira player. Aniruddha Atreya, Khanjira exponent from the early decades of 21st C, is Tyagarajan's grandson and Papa's great-grandson. The legendary singer

Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar (19 May 1890 – 23 January 1967), popularly known as ''Ariyakudi'', was a Carnatic music vocalist, born in Ariyakudi, a town in the present-day Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. Ariyakudi developed a unique style of ...

preferred Papa as his violin accompanist.

Awards

Papa Venkataramaiah was honoured with

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sangita Kalanidhi () is the title awarded annually to a Carnatic musician by the Madras Music Academy. From 1929 to 1941, the award did not exist. The award was conceived in 1942 by Academy President K. V. Krishnaswami Iyer and on 1 January 1 ...

award in 1962.

References

{{reflist Carnatic violinists Sangeetha Kalanidhi recipients 20th-century Indian violinists Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award