Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer
Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer (Tamil: முடிகொண்டான் வெங்கடராம ஐயர் B: October 15, 1897 - D: September 13, 1975) is a South Indian Carnatic music singer and musicologist. He was affectionately called Mudicondan - the name of his native village.[1]
Family Background
He was born in Mudicondan, a tiny village in the Nannilam Taluk, Tiruvarur district in Tamil Nadu, India[2] to parents Chakrapani Iyer and Kamakshi. His father was a singer of Hindu religious hymns. His maternal grandfather Srivanchiyam Swaminatha Iyer rendered padams and javalis with a lilt that earned him the pet name Thalukku Swaminatha Iyer.[1]<br /His uncle Bommalattam Mani Iyer was also a famous musician[3]
Education & Music Training
His father wanted him to be educated in the English medium. After schooling, Mudicondan went to College in Chennai (was called Madras those days). But his father passed away and he had to return to his village abandoning college education.
He decided to have formal training in Carnatic music. He began under Vedaranyam Swaminatha Iyer, who had a reputation that he had the ability to impart swara gnana even to the stone-deaf.
Then he went to Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer for further learning. He learned tala and laya from a tavil vidwan known as Ammachatram Kandaswami Pillai. Simizhi Sundaram Iyer taught him the bhava aspect.[1]
Swaminatha Iyer came from Saint Tyagaraja lineage while Sundaram Iyer was from Muthuswami Dikshitar lineage. This ensured that Mudicondan acquired a very rich repertoire.
He knew many languages including Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit and English. He also had a good knowledge in Astrology and in Ayurveda. He prepared several herbal medicines at home.[3]
Character
He had an analytical mind and in any subject he will go to the depth of the matter. He used to say that when you learn something you should learn it completely in all its aspects. He was a so-called self-made man. He never wore leather footwear, but only wooden sandals. He will point it out when someone makes a mistake. Also, he had the courage to accept his mistakes and then he will correct himself.[3]
Music career
His inaugural concert took place at Cuddalore when he was 17 years of age. In 1919 he did his first concert in Chennai under the auspices of the Mylapore Sangeetha Sabha.
Mudicondan was an expert in rendering Ragam Thanam Pallavi. He had all information about music on his finger tips. When anyone wanted to clear a doubt, he will explain without referring to any book. And he will tell without ambiguity.[3]
He still lived in his native village and taught students there. But he regularly visited Chennai and took part in discussions. The Hindu newspaper reported that Mudicondan was "A great debater on the nuances of music and he used to explain in a remarkable way even obscure points."
From 1935 onwards he regularly attended the Madras Music Academy's annual conference. He was an expert on both Lakshana and Lakshya aspects of the Carnatic music. He explained the correct way of rendering niraval, ragam, tanam and pallavi.
Dr. V. Raghavan, President of the Music Academy successfully convinced him to move to Chennai. Mudicondan moved to Chennai in 1948 and thereafter took a very active role in the Academy's activities. He was appointed Vice-Principal of the Teachers' College of Music. He became its Principal in 1956.[1]
He published many articles from time to time. They have been reproduced in the Souvenir Publication of Chennai Music Academy.[4]
According to The Hindu, his lecture demonstratins at the annual conferences of the Music Academy were a treat for scholars, students and professionals.
A presentation he made in 1952 that made waves was that of a pallavi in Simhanandana Tala (128 aksharas).[1]Click here to listen to a recording of this lecture demonstration that he repeated in 1971.
He retired from the Teachers' College of Music in 1972 but continued there as an Honorary Professor.[1]
Awards
- Sangeetha Kalanidhi, 1948/49 by Madras Music Academy[5]
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1961 by Sangeet Natak Akademi[6]
- Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, 1971 by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai[7]
Death
After a short illness Mudicondan died on September 13, 1975 in Chennai. He was 78.[1]