R K Srikanthan
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Sangeetha Kalanidhi Rudrapatna Krishnashastri Srikanthan (ಕನ್ನಡ: ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಲಾನಿಧಿ ರುದ್ರಪಟ್ಟಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠನ್) is a Vocalist of the Karnataka Sangeeta tradition of South Indian Music.
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[edit] Family Background and Early Life
Sri R K Srikanthan was born to a Sanketi family in Rudrapatna of the Hassan district of Karnataka on 14th January, 1920. His father Sri 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 VenkataShastri 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.
[edit] 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 Nadaswara vidwans of his time. He was also highly influenced by maestros of the like of Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer, Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Musari, G N Balasubrahmanyam and Maharajapuram Vishwanatha 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.
[edit] Awards
R K Srikanthan was awarded the Sangeeta Nataka academy 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.
[edit] 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. [1][2][3]
