Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam

(Estd.1980)

“Balaji Complex”, “Varadha Nivas”, 21/1, Brahmin Street, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015.

Phone 2381  0893 ,    E-mail Address  : g_n_nn @ yahoo.com

Anniversary Celebrations  2005

 

      

 

1. Introduction:

Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015, is to conduct the programmes in the field of music for Silver, Gold and Diamond jubilee year in 2005 due to the  following reasons: -

 

Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam, Saidapet, Chennai 15, Tamil Nadu, started in 1980 by Founder & Principal Sri G N Desikan, will be completing 25 years of musical service. This celebration will synchronise with the completion of 75 years of age for Sri G N Desikan and also his service in the music field for 50 years.

 

2. Musical Guru(s) of Sri G N Desikan

Sri G.N.DESIKAN – VOCALIST, was born on 9^th October 1930 at Kanchipuram to sri N.A. Varadachari & Rajalakshmi. He started learning music from his mother at the age of 3 Yrs. He had his musical training from Sri V.R. Sethuraman, a Senior disciple of  Late Sri Madurai Mani Ayyar, for nearly 17 years. He had his debut performance at Sri Thyagaraja Vidwat Samajam, Chennai,in March 1955. Since then, Sri Desikan has been giving concerts all over India with accompaniments provided by prominent/ leading violin and mridangam vidwans. He has great admiration for his guru's guru, Madurai Mani Ayyar and has been celebrating Madurai Mani Ayyar Day, every year,besides Sri Tyagaraja Festival & Vidyalayam Anniversary, since 1980. He is the Founder – Principal of Sri Tyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam, Saidapet, Chennai. He has more than 2000 programmes in his credit.

 

Sri G N Desikan honouring his Guru Sri V R Sethuraman during Vidyalayam’s Anniversary. Sri K R Saranathan,another disciple of Sri V R Sethuraman, looks on.

 

3.Achievements of Founder, principal, Music teacher Sri G N Desikan

1. Started learning music at the age of 3 years from his mother Mrs. Rajalakshmi.
2. Learned Music from Sangeetha vidwan Shri. V R Sethuraman, Disciple of Ganakalathara Madurai Mani Iyer for nearly 17 years.
3. Joined Services of (ICI) India (P) Limited, Chennai, in the year 1948 and retired as sales officer in 1985.
4. Giving concerts since March 1955.
5. Started singing in All India Radio, Chennai , since 1968. He also had programmes in Doordarshan & other private Channels many times.
6. Now he is nearing 2000^th concerts , in his career since 1955.
7. Sang all over India in Sabhas,Temples, Musical organizations, AIR, with all leading vidwans  accompaniment and also given lecture & demonstration on music  to students at several musical institutions in India.
8. Started Sangeetha Vidyalayam in 1980 and honouring an artiste every year at the anniversary celebrations.
9. Celebrating Sri Thyagaraja Jayanthi, Madurai Mani Iyer Day and Vidyalayam Anniversary every year starting from 1980.
10. Vidyalayam charges very  nominal for the students with no caste bar.
11. The starting age for music class admission is 3-4 years and many children are giving programmes in public and are still continuing with higher learnings in music.
12. His students participated in many Music Competitions in schools, colleges, AIR, TV & other institutions and won many prizes.
13. The Principal, Sri. G N Desikan, has also earned many titles like Sangeetha Rathnam, Sangeetha Bhushana, Asthana Vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam etc.
14. Vidyalayam’s Branch has been started at jafferkhanpet, Chennai, to conduct classes for interested students in that area, since 1999.
15. Sri G N Desikan continued his musical career & office works  simultaneously for nearly 30 years.
16. He has completed 2000th Music Concert at Vishaka Music & Dance Academy, Vishakapatnam on July 30^th 2004.

 

4. List of vidwans accompanied Sri G N Desikan’s concerts

Many vidwans all over the country has accompanied him in his concerts so far. Few vidwans names were mentioned in states wise as follows:

Andhra Pradesh

Violin	Mridangam	Morsing
Sri Annavarappu Ramaswamy Sri A Murali Krishna       Sri G Ram Mohan Rao	Sri Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao Sri Narayana Raju	Sri Thanigai Nagarathnam

 

Karnataka:

Violin	Mridangam	Ghatam	Kanjira
Sri T S Tatachari Sri T T Srinivasan Sri M S Ramaiah Anur Sri Ramakrishna Sri M S Govindaswamy Sri Kanchana Subrathnam	Sri M L Veera Badraiah Sri P G Lakshmi Narayan Sri T A S Mani	Sri Manjunath	Sri H P Ramachar

Kerala:

Violin	Mridangam	Ghatam	Kanjira	Muharsing
Sri Chalakudi Naraya Swamy Sri C Rajendran Sri T V Ramani Sri Nedungad Sivanandam Sri T H Subramaniam Smt. T H Lalitha	Sri Mavelikara Krishnankutty Nair Sri Mavelikara Velu Kutty Nair Sri Mavelikara S R Raju Sri Trichur Mohan Sri S A Ramakrishnan	Sri Bangalore Venkat Raman Sri Udupi Sridhar	SriYNSanthanam Sri Sridhar	Bangalore Sri Rajasekar

Tamil Nadu:

 

Violin	Mridangam	Ghatam	Kanjira
Sri V Govindaswamy                   Naicker Sri V Sethuramaiah Sri M S Anantha Raman Sri M Chandra Sekar Sri Trivellore             Subramaniam Sri R S Gopala Krishnan Sri Chittoor Gopala                    Kishnan Sri Kandadevi              Alagiriswamy Sri Trivellore V               Parthasarathy Sri R Kailasam Sri V L Kumar Sri Sikkil Bhaskaran Sri Delhi Sundar Rajan Sri Covai           Balasubramaniam Sri G Chandra Mouli Sri Nagai Muralidharan Sri Anayampatti Ganesan Sri N V Subramaniam Sri Madurai Bala               Subramaniam	Sri Madurai Krishna Iyengar Sri Vellore Ramabhadran Sri Madras A Kannan Sri Coimbatore Ramaswamy Dr. T K Moorthy Sri Mannargudi Eswaran Sri Kuttalam Viswanatha Iyer Sri Suchindram Krishnan Sri Tanjore Ramdoss Sri M N Kandaswamy’ Sri Madurai T Srinivasan Sri Tanjore S Subramaniam Sri Kumbakonam Rajappier Sri Nagerkoil Ganesa Iyer Sri Srimushnam Raja Rao Sri Umayalpuram Mali Sri K V Prasad Sri T V Gopala Krishnan Sri Nagai S Soundar Rajan Sri Tiruvarur S Vaidyanathan	Sri Alangudi               Ramachandran Sri T H Vinayak Ram Sri T V Vasan Sri Madipakkam Murali Sri T D Balu Sri Adambakkam                      Shankar Sri S Kartik   Morsing Sri Pudukkottai          Mahadevan Sri R V Pakkrisamy Sri Srirangam Kannan   Violin(Contd) Sri A S  Ravi Kumar Sri Janardhanam	Sri Madurai Krishan                          Iyengar Sri K S Ranga Chari Sri Mayavaram Somu Sri K V R S Mani Sri Hari Shankar   Dolak Sri Tanjore Balapppa   Keddhu Sri Avudayarkoil Harihara                       Baghavathar

 

 

Delhi

 

Violin	Mridangam
Sri V S K Chakrapani Ms Sandya Sri Srinivasa Rao	Sri V Gopala Krishanan Sri Prem Kumar Sri Padmanabhan

 

5. IMPORTANT SABHAS WHERE Sri G N DESIKAN has SUNG

 

To mention a few places where he sung:

 

 

Tamil Nadu	Andhra Pradesh		Kerala
Bilahari Gana Sabha, Chennai Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai Jana Ranjani, Kumbakonam Kalalaya, salem Maharajapuram Trust, Ranipet Music Academy, Chennai Nadopasana, Chennai Naradha Gana sabha, karur Neyveli Sangeetha Sabha, Neyveli Pollachi Tamil Sangam, Pollachi R R Sabha, Chennai Sapthaswara, Kancheepuram Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai Sri Sadguru Sangeetha Samajam,                                        Madurai Sri Thyagara Bhaktha  Sabha, Chennai, Sri Thyagaraja Vidwat samajam,                                               Chennai Tambaram Music Club, Chennai Tamil Isai Sangam, Karaikudi Tamil Isai sangam, Madurai Thiruvaiyaru Sri Thyagaraja Jayanthi,                                          Thiruvaiyaru Thiruvarur Sri Thyagaraja Jayanthi,                                           Tiruvarur Tiruppur Shanmuganantha Sabha,                                           Tiruppur Trichy  Fine Arts, Trichy	Dharma Prachara Parishad,                                   Tirupathi Kalasagaram, Hyderabad Kanakadurga kala Samithi,                                 Vijayawada Nagarjuna Cultural Centre,                                     Guntur T T  D, Tirumala  T T D Music College, Tirupathi Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, Eluru Vijaya Kala Bharathi,                           Vizianagaram  Visakha Music & Dance Academy, Vishakapatnam Karnataka: Bangalore Gayana Samaj,                                    Bangalore IndiraNagar Sangeetha Sabha,              Indira Nagar, Bangalore Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha,              Malleswaram, Bangalore Raga Dhana, Udipi Sree Rama Seva Mandali,             Chamrajpet,Bangalore Rajaji Nagar Sangeetha sabha,                                   Bangalore Shanmugapriya, K G F Sangeetha Parishad, Mangalore		Sri Sadguru Sangeetha Sabha,                               Kozhikode Kerala Fine Arts, Cochin Rasika Priya, Cochin Ranjani Sangeetha Sabha,                                Kottayam Palghat Fine Arts, Palakad Sri Swathi Thirunal sabha,                               Trivandrum Vivekananda  Sangetha Sabha,                                     Trichur Tiruppunithura Sabha,                               Ernakulam FACT Lalitha Kendra,                          Udyogamandal   MUMBAI: Dombivili Fine Arts,                 Dombivili. Mumbai Sri Shanmugananada Sabha,                                Mumbai   CALCUTTA:  Rasika Ranjana Sabha,                                Calcutta
Delhi		NAGPUR
Chamber Music, Janakpuri Delhi Tamil Sangam East Delhi Music Circle Gayatri Fine Arts, Rohini Janakpuri Tamil Association Kalangan Trust Mayur Vihar South Indian Association Music Appreciation Centre Music Trinity sabha Swaralaya		Nagpur Fine Arts, Nagpur   BHILAI : Bhilai Tamil Sangam   JAMSHEDPUR : Madrasi Sammelan

 

 

 

 

6. Honours and titles received :

     To See sri G N Desikan's concert photos< Please Click Here>

 

SNo	Titles	Name of the Awardee	Year
1.	Sangeetha Rathnam	Bhuvaneshwari Peetam, Om Shanthi Ashram,Ambattur, Chennai	1973
2.	Sangeetha Bhushana	Tulasivanam Sangita Parishad, Trivandrum	1983
3.	Best Junior Musician Award	Indian Fine Arts Society, T Nagar, Chennai	1987
4.	Ganamrutha Surabi	Sri Vidya Peetam, Kallidakurichi	1988
5.	Sukalaya Sangeetha	Chembai Ekadasi Festival Committee,Chembai, Kerala	1989
6.	Suswara Sukha Laya sangeetha	Purandaradasar / Sri Thyaga Brahma Music festival Committee, Tambaram, Chennai	1989
7.	Isai Chemmal	Deiveeka Iyal Isai Manram, Adambakkam, Chennai	1998
8.	Asthana Vidwan	Kanchee Kamokoti Peetham, Kancheepuram, T N	2002
9.	Dr.Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer Veteran Musician Award	Bharath Kalachar, Chennai	2004
10.	Gayaka Kalanidhi	Srirangam Srimad Andavan Swamigal’s 71st Birthday celebrations	2005

 

7.          Celebration of Sri Thyagaraja Jayanthi, Madurai Mani Iyer day & Anniversary Celebrations

                                               To See Photos of the vidyalayam celebrations< Pl Click Here>

• The vidyalayam was started in May 1980 by Sri G N Desikan, since the music school conducted by his master –teacher Sri V R Sethuraman Iyer ( a Disciple of late Ganakaladhara Madurai Mani Iyer) for nearly 17 years at Saidapet, Madras  was not held.

 

• The vidyalayam was at the beginning in 1980 was managed by Sri Keeranur Ramaswamy Pillai, since Mr. Desikan was employed in  ICI India Ltd, Chennai , as sales officer. However,after retirement from service , the founder & principal, Sri G N Desikan took over the  music classes, in 1984. Vidyalayam also started the Mridangam Classes were held at the vidyalayam for nearly 20 years under the supervision of Mridangam vidwan Nagai Sri S Soundara Rajan.

 

• The students in the vidyalayam are taught vocal music starting from beginning and the classes are divided into groups based on the student’s standards. Strict discipline is also observed in the vidyalayam, such as regular attendance, wearing kumkum, getting signature from parents for practicing music in the home daily, etc. At the Vidyalayam’s anniversary function attendance prizes are given for meritorious students every year, which will be distributed by a senior  vidwan/eminent person ,who will preside over the function that day.

 

• Sri G N Desikan, Musician, is also a visiting professor for a number of institutions in India. He has also acted as a Judge in music competitions held by various sabhas in the country.

 

• The vidyalayam has so far taught music to 2000 students since 1980. In the year 2000, The vidyalam started its branch at “ Kumaran Flats”, C-1,T-13 A, Nagappan street, jafferkhanpet, Chennai. The new admissions to both the schools are made only on Vijayadasami day every year.

 

• During the Anniversary Day every year, Sri Thaygaraja Jayanthi commences with Unchavrithi bhajan in the morning around the nearby  streets. On reaching the venue, Pancharathna Gosti ganam (the five gems of saint sri Thyagaraja Kritis) is sung by vidwans present with accompaniments. This is followed by singing of Sri Thayagaraja kritis by those present till evening.

 

• Around 4 P.M. Amarar Ganakaladhara Madhurai Mani Iyer’s portrait is unveiled by the vidwan who will subsequently give a concert till 6 P.M. with accompaniments. A prominent personnel will preside over the function and congratulates the vidwans, honouring them with presentation of Shawls etc.

 

• Then commences vidyalayam’s anniversary celebrations. The music students will sing group-wise at the end of which distribution of prizes for the best students in attendance throughout the past year.

 

• Finally the programme  will conclude with Sri Anjaneya utsavam in sampradaya Bhajan style conducted by vidwan Sh. K R Saranathan and party . The anniversary celebrations will conclude with vote of thanks proposed by the principal of the vidyalayam, Sri G N Desikan.

 

8. Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam honors Vidwans/vidwamsinis

 

During the Vidyalayam’s anniversary , it celebrates Galakakadhara Madhurai Mani Iyer day with a music concert by one of the senior vidwans in the field of carnatic music. The Vidyalayam has honored the following vidwans from 1980 followed by their music programmes held either at sri soundareeswarar temple, Brahmin street, or at K P. Kalyana mandapam, Alandhur Road, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015.

 

The following vidwans ,who have sung so far in Madurai mani Iyer Day  celebrations of the Sangeetha Vidyalayam, since 1980. Sri G N  Desikan’s Guru & Senior Disciple of Madurai Sri Mani Iyer,  Sri V R Sethuraman, has given the inaugural Concert in such series.

         S.No       Name of the Artist

1.                  Bombay Sisters  Smt. C, Saroja &  Smt. C Lalitha Vocal Duet

2.                  Chittor Sri Venkatesan - Flute

3.                  Delhi Prof. T R. Subramaniam

4.                  Dr N Ramani - Flute                

5.                  Dr. M Chandrasekaran – Violin solo & Vocal

6.                  Dr. Madhurai Soma Sundaram

7.                  Dr. S Ramanathan

8.                  Karur Sri  D Krishnamoorthy

9.                  Madurai Sri  G  S  Mani

10.              Neyveli Sri Santhana Gopalan   

11.              Seerkazhi Sri Jayaraman

12.              Sikkil Sisters Smt. Kunjumani  &  Smt.Neela  - Flute

13.              Smt. Seetha Duraiswamy- Jalatharangam

14.              Sri  O S Thyagarajan

15.              Sri B V Raman &  Sri B V Lakshmanan - Vocal Duet

16.              Sri K R Saranathan

17.              Sri R Pichumani - Veena

18.              Sri T V Sankara Narayanan

19.              Sri Tirupoonduruthi Venkatesan

20.              Sri V. R Sethuraman

21.              Tiruvenkadu  Sri  Jayaraman

22.             Tiruvidaimarudhur Sri S Radhakrishnan

   9.   Chief Guests of the Madurai Mani Iyer Day

The following prominent persons presided over the Ganakaladhara Madurai Mani Iyer day and honoured the vidwans who participated in the programmes.

Dr. M Balamurali Krishna	Dr T K Govinda Rao	Sri N V Subramaniam
Sri K V Krishnan	Sri V S Sundararajan	Kalakad  Sri Rama Narayana Iyer
Sri Kumar (AIR Chennai Station Director (Retd)	Kothamangalam Viswanathan	Thiruvengadu Sri Jayaraman
Sri Mannargudi Sambasiva Iyer	Sri V S Gnanskandan	“Tharara”, Journalist
Sri T S Parthasarathy	Sri Vidyadoss Swamiji	Justice K S Venkatraman, IAS
Sri. V Ramamurthy, IAS	Kunnakudi  Sri  S Vaidyanathan	Delhi Prof. T R Subramaniam
Tanjore Sri Sankara Iyer	Sri H RamaKrishnan Doordarshan, Chennai	Therezundhur Srinivasa Chariar

 

10.   To contact for details:

 

Head office                             :   Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam

                                                                 (Estd 1980)

Address                          :   “Varada Nivas”   “Balaji Complex”

                                                     New No 21/1 (Old No 10/1), Brahmin Street,

                                                     Saidapet,  Chennai 600 015. (Tamil Nadu)

Telephone                                 :    2 3 8 1   0 8 9 3

 

Branch At                      : “Kumaran Flats”,  “Sri Nilayam”

   C-1, T-13 A, Nagappan Street ,

                                                   Jafferkhanpet,

                                                   Chennai 600 083

Telephone                                  :  2 3 7 1   2 1 1 3      

E-Mail Address                      :  g_n_nn@yahoo.com

                                                   g_n_n@hotmail.com

Founder,Principal &            :  Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Asthana Vidwan

Music teacher                                     G N DESIKAN

Note:

Sabhas, Music organizations and temples in India & abroad Who wish  to participate in the celebrations for honoring the Sangeetha Vidwan Sri G N Desikan in 2005 may contact Vidyalayam or can send e-mail to: g_n_nn@yahoo.com. The detailed programme of the  celebrations will be available on the net shortly.

 

Websites:                               https://www.angelfire.com/musicals/gndesikan00/gnd.html

                                               http://gndesikanprofile.tophonors.com

                                     http://gndesikan.latest-info.com

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