The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, T.K. Murthy honoured

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 05, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, T.K. Murthy honoured

Staff Reporter

Function organised by Sri Jaya Ganesh Tala Vadya Vidyalaya

PHOTO: S. R. RAGHUNATHAN

FELICITATION: Ghatam exponent T.H. Vikku Vinayakaram (left) and Sri Krishna Sweets chairman M. Murali (right), honouring mridangam vidwan T.K.Murthy and Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma at a function in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and mridangam vidwan T.K. Murthy were felicitated on Sunday for their contributions to music.

Shawls, mementos, and prasadams from temples were presented to them amid the chanting of hymns at a function organised by Sri Jaya Ganesh Tala Vadya Vidyalaya in association with Sri Krishna Sweets.

T.H. Vikku Vinayakaram, founder of the Vidyalaya and ghatam exponent, said it was the beginning of a series of programmes proposed by the institution under which an artist would be honoured every month. People associated with the world of music, including K.R. Athmanathan, secretary to the late M.S. Subbulakshmi, felicitated the artists who were honoured by the ghatam exponent and M. Murali, chairman of Sri Krishna Sweets.

The organisers of the function described Mr. Sharma as a musician who single-handedly transformed the santoor, "an obscure, unknown instrument, to the level of being indispensable on the concert platform." Through his performance over the last four decades in the country and abroad, the Padma Shree and Padma Vibushan recipient had over 100 recordings.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Sharma said the function was a "unique experience" and Mr. Vinayakaram was a "living legend, great musician, unassuming person ... a combination of so many qualities."

Mr. Murthy was initiated into playing mridangam at the age of eight and over the last seven decades had mastered the art. He performed with M.S. Subbulakshmi for more than 40 years and was well versed in music, konakkol, ghatam and ganjira.

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