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News Round UpMarch 11, 2007
Senior musician T. Mukta passes away
 

T. Mukta, the younger of the famed Brinda - Mukta duo, passed away at her residence in Chennai on March 11. She was 93 years old.

Born in the family of the legendary 'Veena' Dhanammal, Mukta learnt music mainly by listening to her sister Brinda who learnt from the veteran Kanchipuram Nayana Pillai. Later, the sisters performed as a duo for a long time. the sisters were known for rendering Padams and javalis.

Muktamma, as affectionately called by her students, was best known as a guru. Many performing musicians have learnt from her including, R. Vedavalli, Sowmya, Nirmala Sundararajan, Subhashini Parthasarathy, Savitri Satyamurthy,

She was the recipient of many titles including Sangeet Natak Akademi award and Sangeeta Kala Acharya fron the Music Academy, Chennai.

 Photo courtsey-www.carnatica.net


<<If you have been to the concerts of T. Mukta or have known her closely, please share your memories with others here. Mail to editor@kutcheribuzz.com>>



Readers share...

It was such shocking news to learn that Mukthamma is no-more! Yes, she lived to be 93. But, the music that she represented is almost gone forever!

The Dhanammal family was very close to my father Ganakalanidhi Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar from mid 1930s. Until her demise, Veena Dhanammal had Friday get-together of musicians at her home. At that time all the musicians of fame such as Tiger, Ariyakudi, Maharajapuram and others used to be at her place to listen to her playing, exchange musical repertoire and to learn Padams and Javalis from her. My father, Vinjamuri, started attending Dhanammal’s Friday musical events from the time he was very young.

I am reminded of 2 incidences that are pertaining to Mukthamma that I would like to share with all music lovers.

In 1984, my parents were to travel to USA and I had the duty of taking them to the doctor to make sure that they were fit to travel that long journey. My father, Vinjamuri, did not believe in going to the doctor for the check-up as he was sure that he was fit as a fiddle. So, he procrastinated and I finally convinced him to go to the doctor for a short time and that was the evening before his journey to US. He told me that he had to go to Sastry hall in Mylapore and asked me to pick him up at about 8.00 P.M. I got the appointment for 8.15 P.M. I, along with my mother, went to Sastry hall exactly at 8.00 P.M. and went up to the hall. There, the disciples of Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar were celebrating ‘Ariyakudi’ day and Mukthamma was singing with T. Kesavulu on the Violin. I do not recall who the Mridangist was. The concert was going on at full swing. My father was sitting in the first row listening to the music with full concentration. As he could not see my entering the hall, I crawled myself to him, sat next to him on the floor and whispered in his ear that it was time for us to go. He glanced at me with a little frown on his face as if he was reprimanding me for disturbing him from his Tapas. I whispered again and this time he whispered back –
‘How do you expect me to leave this music and come?’ At that time it was more than obvious to me that no matter what my persuasion would be, he would not budge from there until the concert was over. So, I went down, informed my mother and went back to listen to the concert. We stayed until the end of the concert. He approached the artists, introduced me to Mukthamma and others and then we left for the appointment. I believe my father would not have left the concert in the middle even if was an appointment with the President of India! Such was his appreciation for the Danammal’s bani!

In April of 2001, I went back to India and had done interviews with many admirers and contemporaries of my father and Mukthamma was one of them. She spoke very highly of my father whom they all respected and liked very much. At the end of the interview, I requested her to sing a song for me. She immediately took out her Sruthi box, adjusted it and started singing a padam in Mohana. After that, even though I knew that I was bothering an 87 year old lady, I requested her again to sing a song in Begada as I always loved that Ragam. She did not hesitate even for a second and again chose a padam and sang just for me! I was so thrilled and was overwhelmed with emotionto to realize how simple and unassuming she was! I felt as if I was given an honor that I didn’t even deserve! Am I glad that I taped them all!

Sandhya Vinjamuri-Giri (Daughter of Sangeetha Ratnakara Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar)
by E-mail

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