T. V. Sankaranarayanan

T. V. Sankaranarayanan (Tiruvalangadu Vembu Iyer Sankaranarayanan, born March 7, 1945) is an eminent and popular Carnatic vocalist (South Indian classical singer), known for his vibrant music that essentially stems from the style of his late uncle-guru, Madurai Mani Iyer.

Padma Bhushan Sankaranarayanan, a winner of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award instituted by the Madras Music Academy, is particularly noted for the easy reach of his voice to the upper notes and colorful delineation of the Swaraprastaram ( solfage ).

Profile

He was born in Mayiladuturai of Thanjavur district in the state of Tamil Nadu in south India. At the age of nine, he started learning music from his uncle, Madurai Mani Iyer.

He made his debut on the concert platform in 1968 and then gradually established himself as a Carnatic vocalist. His emotion-laden style of singing has won him a large following among music lovers. He has performed widely at home and abroad and has several albums to his credit. In a profile published in the Financial Express, Subbudu, a music critic, once wrote: "Sankaranarayanan is indeed an asset to the Carnatic music world, where the tribe of good vocalists is dwindling."

Awards and honours

• Gayaka Sikhamani by Bhairavi, USA in 1981
• Swara Laya Ratnakara by Ramakrishnananda Saraswati of Sri Vidyasram, Rishikesh in 1986
• Ganakalaratnam by Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar in 1987
• Nadakanal By Nadakanal, Madras in 1987
• Innisai Perarasu By Bharati Kalamandram, Toronto in 1981
• Sangeetha Ratnakara By Vassar College in 1975
• Swara Yoga Shironmani By Yoga Jivana Satsangha (International)in 1997
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990
• Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2003
• Sangeetha Kalanidhi by the Madras Music Academy in 2003
• Sangeetha Kalasikhamani by The Indian Fine Arts Society in 2005
• Vidhya Tapasvi by TAPAS Cultural Foundation in 2012

References

• On a joyous musical journey from The Hindu newspaper