The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Pattammal conferred with `Sangeeta Vidyanidhi'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Pattammal conferred with `Sangeeta Vidyanidhi'

Special Correspondent

`Living legend among illustrious fraternity of Indian classical music'

HONOURING A LEGEND: D.K. Pattammal being honoured by M. Balamuralikrishna (extreme right) and Sri Sivananda Murty Guru at a function held in Chennai on Tuesday. Her husband is to her right. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: Doyen of Carnatic music D.K.Pattammal was on Tuesday conferred the title `Sangeeta Vidyanidhi' by Andhra Music Academy in Chennai.

At a function held at the Music Academy, the mentor of Andhra Music Academy Sri Sivananda Murty Guru presented Smt. Pattammal, who was accompanied by her husband Iswaran, with a gold medal. The award also comprised a shawl, a silk scarf, citation and a cash prize of Rs.32,032.

Reading out the citation, R. Prabhakar Rao, president, Andhra Music Academy, said Smt. Pattammal, along with M.L. Vasanthakumari and M.S. Subbulakshmi had formed a trinity of women Carnatic singers.

The citation lauded her as a `living legend among the illustrious fraternity of Indian classical music.' Smt. Pattammal was also presented Sangeeta Bharathi - Lifetime Achievement Award by Nada Bharathi, Hyderabad, an organisation headed by Srinivasa Gopalan. Offering felicitations on the occasion, N. Murali, president, Music Academy said she had held sway over music lovers for the better part of the 20th century and was the very embodiment of purity and tradition. V.V. Srivatsa, secretary, Music Academy, said the doors of the Academy would always be open for the Andhra Music Academy for cultural collaboration in future.

Noted carnatic vocalist and composer M. Balamuralikrishna called Smt. Pattammal as the `mother of music.' Her achievements and devotion to music put her beyond awards and her affection towards fellow musicians was unparalleled. He hoped that the couple would live a long life with sound health.

Disciple of Smt. Pattammal and danseuse Vyjayanthimala Bali recalled her association with her music guru. N.V. Subramanian, managing trustee, Saraswathi Vaggeyyakara Trust, said her achievements have been monumental. P.B. Srinivos, representing the Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, composed a song in praise of Smt. Pattammal.

Accepting the award, Smt. Pattammal expressed heartfelt gratitude to the organisers, including the Chennai-based Sarvani Sangeeta Sabha.

"Music is an ocean and one can only skim the surface," she said, adding that her only desire was to be singing until her last breath.

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