Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan
Encyclopedia
Madurai Thirumalai Nambi Seshagopalan (born, September 5, 1948) is a noted Carnatic
musician and composer. As well as being a master of the veena
and harmonium
, he is an exponent of harikatha
.
He was conferred the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi title by Music Academy in 2006.
, Tamil Nadu
. He first learnt under his mother, and later under tutelage of Ramanathapuram C. S. Sankarasivan. He holds a degree in science from Madras University and a degree in music from Madurai University where he later served as professor of music.
He is proficient in rendering Harikatha and performs as per the guruparampara of Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar. Seshagopalan continues to increase his wide repertoire with compositions of his own. He is noted for his own elegant thillana
s, bhajan
s, namavalis and abhang
s. He is equally at home with North Indian ragas and has participated in several jugalbandhi
s.
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...
musician and composer. As well as being a master of the veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
and harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
, he is an exponent of harikatha
Harikatha
Harikatha , otherwise called Katha Kalakshepa is a form of Hindu religious discourse, also known as Katha storytelling format, in which the story teller explores a religious theme, usually the life of a saint or a story from an Indian epic.Harikatha is a composite art form composed of story...
.
He was conferred the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi title by Music Academy in 2006.
Early life
T. N. Seshagopalan was born in NagapattinamNagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. He first learnt under his mother, and later under tutelage of Ramanathapuram C. S. Sankarasivan. He holds a degree in science from Madras University and a degree in music from Madurai University where he later served as professor of music.
Music career
He is also a very good Veena player. He can also play carnatic music on the Keyboard.He is proficient in rendering Harikatha and performs as per the guruparampara of Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar. Seshagopalan continues to increase his wide repertoire with compositions of his own. He is noted for his own elegant thillana
Thillana
Thillana is a rhythmic piece in Carnatic music, from which the Hindustani tarana originated, generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in dance performances. A thillana uses tala-like phrases in the pallavi and anupallavi, and lyrics in the charanam...
s, bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s, namavalis and abhang
Abhang
Abhang or Abhanga is a form of devotional poetry sung in praise of the Hindu god Vitthala also known as Vithoba. Bhajans focus on the inward journey, abhangs are more exuberant expressions of the communitarian experience.-History:...
s. He is equally at home with North Indian ragas and has participated in several jugalbandhi
Jugalbandhi
A jugalbandi or jugalbandhi is a performance in Indian classical music that features a duet of two solo musicians...
s.
Tours
In 1984 he was invited to sing at the Adelaide International Festival in Australia (and included performances Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and New Zealand). In 1987 he was India's cultural ambassador to Russia. He has performed in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Bahrain and Sri Lanka and has visited and performed in the United States of America numerous times.Awards and titles
- Gayaka Sikhamani awarded by Chodiah Memorial Trust Mysore in January 2007
- Sangeetha KalanidhiSangeetha KalanidhiSangeetha 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:*...
2006 awarded by Madras Music AcademyMadras Music AcademyMadras 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... - Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
- 2004 - "SangeetaSaagara" by CMANA,NJ,USA 2007
- Sulakshana Gana Vichkshana - by H. H. Srimad Andavan Swamigal Srirangam - 1993
- Kumaragandharva Rashtriya Sanmaan - Kumaragandhrva Foundation - Mumbai - 2002
- Nadhabrahmam - Indian Fine Arts - Texas - USA - 2002
- Musician of the Year 1999-2000 by Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
- President Award 2000 - by Sangeet Natak Academy, Central Government
- Tiruppugazh Mani in 1964
- Gana Bhoopathi by the Tamil Sangam of Olavakod in 1967
- Sangeetha Kala Sagaram by Sri Jayendra SaraswathiJayendra SaraswathiSri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is the 69th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham....
of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam - KalaimamaniKalaimamaniThe Kalaimamani is an award in Tamil Nadu state, India. These awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram for excellence in the field of art and literature....
by Tamil Nadu Government in 1984 - Isai Selvam by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Karunanidhi.
- Isai Kalai Vendan by Australian Foundation of Canberra - 1998