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I started my musical journey
under Guru Vaigal Sri Gnanaskandan at the age of 5. He was a direct disciple of Semmangudi
Sri Srinivasa Iyer and Dandapani Desigar. He retired
as Music Producer, All India Radio, Chennai.
He is such a Guru that I wish every sishya can
experience. A devoted teacher, he was passionate about his sishyas and their progress. He used to visibly take
pride in projecting his students and their performances. |
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(Listen to my music class with Gnanaskandan sir when I was 6 yrs old - Kalyani Varnam)
I remember the innumerable
concerts that I have sung as his vocal support and he used to give me so
much air time that it used to feel like my own concert! His repertoire had
some very rare numbers from the Desigar stable since he was a direct disciple. He also had a brilliant voice that never
seemed to lose its timbre. He continued to sing at C-sharp even when he was
well past 70. Sir used to start my classes with a positive mindset every
time that made it easy for me to pick up any complicated piece of music
with ease. His wholehearted blessings have always created a deep rooted
impact in my mind.
He is always considered a part of our family and joins us in all our
endeavors.
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Prof T.R. Subamaniam was first a family friend and a long time association
of my father and then my guru. My association with him started when he used
to come home for music sessions along with some other prominent
personalities in the field. I was always intrigued by his unique and
unconventional approach to music.
Prof TRS is a disciple of Musiri Subramania Iyer. However his
fascination for GNB's music is evident and
reflective in his own approach. |
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I remember my first session
with him when I was about 10 yrs old. He asked me to sing Viriboni Varnam and I was
quite confident singing it. However he expected so much perfection in the
rendition that he kept saying I didn’t reach the Mantra Panchamam
while singing "marulukonnadira" of the Pallavi. It took me about an hour to move to the Anupallavi. In all, the session lasted approximately 3
hrs which was a little too much for a 10 yr old to handle. At the end of
the session he remarked to my father that he should send me to Delhi with him and
promised to return a Gem in 4 yrs time. That was like a shot in the arm and
did wonders to my confidence.
I formally started learning under Prof TRS only recently. He is a
perfectionist to the core. Sahitya Shuddam and Swarasthana suddham are two aspects that are always stressed. He
also has enormous patience as a teacher. He can go on for hours until the
lesson has been perfected, and rendered with clarity. It’s not uncommon for
me to spend 4-5 hr sessions on a single RTP with him! |
I learnt for a very brief period from Vidwan MA Venugopal. He also
belonged to Semmungudi school. A patient teacher, his strength was
padandhara sudham, probably a byproduct of being a vainika vidwan.
He was very affectionate towards me and used to fondly refer to me
as his grandson. The association was unfortunately cutshort abruptly
with his sudden demise.
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