M. D. Ramanathan
Encyclopedia
Manjapara Devesa Ramanathan (May 20, 1923 – April 27, 1984) affectionately called MDR was a Carnatic music
composer and vocalist.
, Madras Province(Present Kerala) on 20 May 1923. His father Devesa Bhagavathar was a music teacher by profession. MDR did his schooling in Palakkad and graduated with a BSc
degree in Physics
from Victoria College, Palakkad. On completion of his studies, he travelled to Madras along with his father to improve his musical talents.
initiated a new course on Sangeeta Siromani at Kalakshetra
. MDR auditioned for the course and was the only student to be selected for the first batch commencing in 1944. Soon, MDR emerged as Tiger Varadachariar
's favorite and was his closest disciple when the latter died in 1950.
, Sri, Anandabhairavi
, Reethigowla and Yadukula Kambhoji. Other favorite ragas of his include Kedaram, Kambhoji and Hamsadhwani. As he himself once admitted, his Vilambita Kaala Gaanam renderings during Kathakali
dances had influenced his music and style of singing.
His style of rendering was very different from the standard format of a Carnatic concert. He often deviated from the standard set of sangathis and sang his own versions.
, Telugu
and Sanskrit
. He used the word Varadadasa as his mudra
, in respect for Tiger Varadachari, his teacher. Some of his famous compositions are:
by the Government of India in 1974 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
in 1975. The Indian Fine Arts Society bestowed upon him the title of 'Sangeetha Kala Sigamani' in 1976. He also served as a member of the Madras Music Academy
's Experts Committee. He was also considered for the Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi
award in the 1983-84 season though he did not get the award.
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
composer and vocalist.
Early life
MDR was born in Manjapara, Palakkad DistrictPalakkad district
Palakkad District is one of the 14 districts of the Indian state of Kerala. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District, on the southwest by the Thrissur District and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The...
, Madras Province(Present Kerala) on 20 May 1923. His father Devesa Bhagavathar was a music teacher by profession. MDR did his schooling in Palakkad and graduated with a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Victoria College, Palakkad. On completion of his studies, he travelled to Madras along with his father to improve his musical talents.
Study of Sangita Siromani music
During the same time, the legendary Rukmini Devi ArundaleRukmini Devi Arundale
Rukmini Devi Arundale was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, and also an activist for animal rights and welfare....
initiated a new course on Sangeeta Siromani at Kalakshetra
Kalakshetra
Kalakshetra is a cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional values in Indian art, especially in the field of Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. The academy was founded in January 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale. Under Arundale's guidance the institution achieved national...
. MDR auditioned for the course and was the only student to be selected for the first batch commencing in 1944. Soon, MDR emerged as Tiger Varadachariar
Tiger Varadachariar
Tiger Varadachariar was a famous Carnatic music vocalist who hailed from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. M. D. Ramanathan was his student.-Early life:...
's favorite and was his closest disciple when the latter died in 1950.
Principal of Kalakshetra
After his graduation, MDR continued as an assistant to his guru and later became Professor of Music at Kalakshetra. He also served as the Principal of the College of Fine Arts at Kalakshetra.Renderings
MDR was known for his unique style of singing. In addition to having an extremely deep, booming voice, he rendered songs at an extremely slow pace, thereby allowing ample time for the listener to catch every word of the song and gauge its meaning. He also sang with adequate bhava or expression. Ramanathan has sung in most Carnatic music ragas such as SahanaSahana ragam
Sahana is a popular rāgam in Carnatic music. It is a janya rāgam associated with the 28th Melakarta rāgam Harikambhoji. It is not related to Shahana.-Structure and Lakshana:...
, Sri, Anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P...
, Reethigowla and Yadukula Kambhoji. Other favorite ragas of his include Kedaram, Kambhoji and Hamsadhwani. As he himself once admitted, his Vilambita Kaala Gaanam renderings during Kathakali
Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
dances had influenced his music and style of singing.
His style of rendering was very different from the standard format of a Carnatic concert. He often deviated from the standard set of sangathis and sang his own versions.
Compositions
MDR has composed more than 300 songs in Carnatic music in TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
and Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. He used the word Varadadasa as his mudra
Mudra (music)
Mudra is the unique signature of a Carnatic music composer, which is woven into some or all of their respective compositions. Not all composers have mudras, and they do not necessarily relate to the composer's name....
, in respect for Tiger Varadachari, his teacher. Some of his famous compositions are:
| Krithi | Raga Raga A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made... m |
Talam Tala (music) Tāla, Taal or Tal is the term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern of any composition and for the entire subject of rhythm, roughly corresponding to metre in Western music, though closer conceptual equivalents are to be found in other Asian classical systems such as the notion... |
Language |
| Anaimakhkattanai | Manirangu | Misra Chapu | Tamil |
| Aparadhamulellanu | Gowrimanohari | Adi | Telugu |
| Bhaja Bhaja Manuja | Behag | Adi | Sanskrit |
| Bharatesanute | Arabhi | Misra Chapu | Sanskrit |
| Brindavanaloka | Kalyani | Adi | Telugu |
| Brochudaku Samayaide | Begada | Rupaka | Telugu |
| Dandapani | Ramapriya Ramapriya Ramapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 52nd melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta scale system of Carnatic music. It is called Ramāmanōhari in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub... |
Rupaka | Telugu |
| Dari Neevale | Begada | Rupaka | Telugu |
| Dharmavati | Dharmavati Dharmavati Dharmavati is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 59th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.... |
Rupaka | Telugu |
| Durgadevi | Sri | Adi | Sanskrit |
| Emdukichapalamu | Purvikalyani | Adi | Tamil |
| Ennakutram cheideno | Huseni | Adi | Tamil |
| Gajavadana | Hamsadhvani Hamsadhvani Hamsadhvani also known as Hansadhwani, is a rāga in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam... |
Rupaka | Sanskrit |
| Gurucharanam | Kannada | Adi | Sanskrit |
| Guruvaram Bhaja Manasa | Dhanyasi Dhanyasi Dhanyasi is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is a janya rāgam from the 8th melakarta scale Hanumatodi. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras in the ascending scale... |
Rupakam | Sanskrit |
| Hariyum Haranam | Atana | Rupakam | Tamil |
| Thillana | Kāpi Kapi The Kapi was a Spanish automobile manufactured by Automóviles y Autoscooter Kapi in Barcelona from 1950 until 1955. Designed by Captain Federico Saldaña, the first car was a light three-wheeled two door runabout powered by a 125 cc 2 cv single-cylinder two-stroke engine made by Montessa... |
Rupakam ? | Sanskrit |
| Tyagaraja Gurum | Kedaram | Rupakam | Sanskrit |
| Vighnaraja nannu | Sreeranjani | Adi? | Telugu |
Awards
For his contributions to music, MDR was awarded the Padma ShriPadma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by the Government of India in 1974 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
in 1975. The Indian Fine Arts Society bestowed upon him the title of 'Sangeetha Kala Sigamani' in 1976. He also served as a member of the Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
's Experts Committee. He was also considered for the Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Kalanidhi or Sangita Kalanidhi is the title awarded yearly to an expert Carnatic Musician by the Madras Music Academy. This honour is considered one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.-----Sangeetha Kalanidhis:-External links:*...
award in the 1983-84 season though he did not get the award.