Nallan Chakravartula Krishnamacharyulu
Sri Nallan Chakravartula Krishnamacharyulu (1924–2006) was a great scholar, musician, teacher and an exponent of the art of hari katha of modern times. He belongs the lineage of Saint Tyagaraja and is the 5th generation student descendant of the great saint.
Tyagaraja --> Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar --> Susarla Dakshina Murthy Sastry --> Parupalli Rama Krishnayya Pantulu --> Nallan Chakravartula Krishnamacharyulu
Life & Career
He was born in 1924 in Jaggayya peta, Andhra Pradesh to parents Jagannaadha Tiru Venkataacharyulu and Venkata Ramanamma. At a very early age, he started learning vyaakaraNa and meemaamsa sastras from his father and later from sri chilakamarri kesavaacharyulu. He had a long gurukulam-style training in carnatic music from the legendary Parupalli Rama Krishnayya Pantulu who is credited with producing such stalwarts as Dr.M. Balamuralikrishna and Annavarapu Rama Swamy.
Sri Krishnmacharyulu served as staff violinist in All India Radio Vijayawada from 1948 to 1983. He was conferred with the title of Gaana kalA prapuurna by the Anadhra Pradesh Sangeetha Academy. Various other institutions recognized his mastery of the art by conferring titles Sangeetha Saahitya Kalaa Nidhi, Hari Kadhaa Chuudamani and Sangeetha Kalaa Saagara.
In November 1998, he received special recognition from All India Radio (AIR) during Golden Jubilee celebrations; Later he also received a similar award from Telugu University, Hyderabad.
Sri Krishnamacharylu created several scholarly works in Sanskrit and Telugu. He was of firm belief that there was no need for anyone to compose new keerthanas in Carnatic tradition as the Trinity's compositions were matchless and would take a life time to learn even a few. But due to compulsion and requests from some musicians composed over 20 krithis, varnams and Tillanas in popular as well as rare ragas. Just like earlier vaggeyakaras (spontaneous saintly composers), he never needed to think of the verses due to his extraordinary scholarship in Sanskrit and Telugu.
Sri Krishnamacharyulu is inspirational musician for some upcoming musicians in the family, for instance, Nallan Chakravartula Partha Sarathy. His devotion and dedication to music is incomparable.
Compositions
| Composition | Raga | Tala | Type | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varnam | Suddhabangala | Adi | Varnam | Sanskrit |
| GourI Sukumari Sankara Nari | Vasantha | Adi | Kriti | Sanskrit |
| Mara Jananim Asraye | Natakapriya | Adi | Kriti | Sanskrit |
| Sri Kanaka Durge | Kalyani | Adi | Kriti | Sanskrit |
| Gajavadanamasraye | Kedaram | Adi | Kriti | Sanskrit |