R K Srikanthan

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Rudrapatna Krishnashastri Srikanthan (ಕನ್ನಡ: ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಲಾನಿಧಿ ರುದ್ರಪಟ್ಟಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠನ್) is a Vocalist of the Karnataka Sangeeta tradition of South Indian Music.

Family Background and Early Life

Sri R K Srikanthan was born to a Sanketi family in Rudrapatna, Hassan district of Karnataka, on 14 January, 1920. His father R Krishnashastri was an orator, gamaki, playwright, poet, and a harikatha vidwan. His grandfather Narayanaswamy of Bettadapura, also known as Veena Narayanaswamy was a vainika contemporary of Veene Sheshanna and Veene Subbanna. Srikanthan's mother Sannamma was also a good singer of her times but passed away when Srikanthan was very young.

His father Krishnashastri was Srikanthan's first tutor and he moved to Mysore after his wife's death. Later, Srikanthan was mentored by his brother R K Venkata Shastri who accompanied vocalists as a vocal or violin-accompaniment in concerts. Srikanthan went to Sadvidya Paathashaale and Banumayya high school in Mysore. Later, he obtained his BA degree from the Maharaja college, Mysore.

Music

Srikanthan was an avid attendee at all concerts in Mysore during the era of the Odeyars. Srikanthan during these days was highly influenced by the Nadaswaram vidwans of his time. He was also highly influenced by maestros of the like of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Musiri Subramania Iyer, G N Balasubramaniam and Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer. Srikanthan's lineage of gurus is traceable right to Tyagaraja of the trinity of Karnataka Sangeeta.

Srikanthan's singing is characterized by "Sahitya Shuddhi"-Correct rendition of the literature, "Shruti Shuddhi"-Refinement of Pitch and "Swara Shuddhi"-Refinement of notes.

Awards

*R K Srikanthan was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979
*He was honoured with the Sangeetha Kalanidhi title from the Madras Music Academy in 1996
*The Karnataka government has honored him with the Kanaka-Purandara award.

Teaching and lineage

Some of R K Srikanthan's disciples include his son K S Lakshmikanth, M S Sheela, T S Satyavati and H K Narayana.His daughter Ratnamala Prakash is also his disciple, although she achieved fame and success in Sugama Sangeeta or Light Music. [ [http://neelanjana.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/face-to-face-with-sangeeta-kalanidhi-rksrikanthan Face-to-Face with Sangeeta Kalanidhi R.K.Srikanthan « ಅಲ್ಲಿದೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ ] ] [ [http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/column/nataraj/280404rksri_interview.html ThatsKannada.com - Face to Face with R.K. Srikantan, exponent of Carnataic Music ] ] [ [http://www.musicalnirvana.com/carnatic/rk_srikantan.html MusicalNirvana - R K Srikantan ] ]

References