M. Chandrasekaran

Performing at Changampuzha park, Kochi, Kerala.

Sri Mohan Chandrasekaran is a top ranking Violin Maestro in the World of Indian Classical Music, whose career has entered the sixth decade. Sri M. Chandrasekaran was born in a family of traditional musicians on 11 December 1937. He was initiated into Carnatic music by his mother late Srimathi Charubala Mohan, a talented carnatic musician. Smt. Charubala Mohan was the only guru for Sri M. Chandrasekaran on violin. Within a short span, his mother inculcated in Sri Chandrasekaran the essence of carnatic music and he started giving public performances at the age of eleven. His first performance was at Thiagaraja Vidwath Samajam, Mylapore, Chennai, in the year 1949. The young prodigy won many laurels that include the best violinist award in a competition held by the Music Academy in the year 1950. That heralded a career in music which comprised both solo and accompaniment.

Sri M. Chandrasekaran has developed a unique style, with a soothing sound in the background of consciousness, with its lush melodic timbre and remarkable agility and his style is known for its intellectual power, flamboyance and sense of adventure. The purity of his music steeped in “Sruthi and Laya” has touched the hearts of thousands of music lovers all over the world so deeply that it would take them to the highest level of aesthetic experience by the sublime quality of his music. He is known for his mellow tonal flourishes and for following the main artiste like a shadow. He is known for his Nagaswaram and Shehnai touches on the violin. To quote veteran vidwan Dr Pinakapani, “Chandrasekaran’s style of violin playing is a blend of vocal, veena and nagaswaram.” Indian music, especially Carnatic music, derives its melody and complexity from subtle notes — the oscillations of the notes give weight and bearing to the music. And it is here that vocal music plays an important role in bringing out the richness of ragas. Being all too obvious of this fact, Chandrasekaran is well versed in vocal music too. He learnt vocal from his mother and veterans like Mannargudi Sambashiva Bhagavatar, Kumbakonam Vishwanatha Iyer and padams under T Jayammal. Another notable personality under whom he learnt vocals was Vidyala Narasimhalu Naidu, son-in-law of renowned composer Tirupati Narayanaswamy. Naidu also taught him some rare pallavis. He also learned vocal music from some other vidwans and well wishers. His mellifluous voice has the depth and resonance which makes one think of GNB. He is well known for singing the verses of keerthanas, while rendering violin solo. He has the honor of participating in all the Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan since its inception in 1955.

This exposure to vocal music has lent graces and aesthetics to Chandrasekaran’s violin playing, enabling him to reproduce the inflexions of the human voice with remarkable fidelity. The striking feature of Chandrasekaran’s violin rendering is the fluidity of tone, a quivering sweetness reminiscent of western tremolo. Squeezing out the essence of the ragas, he can also be breathtakingly quick in his repartees to a vocalist’s challenges

What have endeared him most as a person are his humility and human qualities. One is reminded of the occasion when T K Rangachari said in a concert that he sang Raga Athana just for his ‘Chandru’, a sincere compliment from an established musician.

Sri Chandrasekaran has provided Violin accompaniment to the entire gamut of stalwarts like Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Sri G.N.Balasubramaniam, Sri Madurai Mani Iyer, Chembai Sri Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Sri Ramnad Krishnan, Sri T.K.Rangachari, Sathur Sri A.G.Subramaniam, Mayavaram Sri Rajam, Alathur Brothers, Flute T.R.Mahalingam, Sri Musiri Subramania Iyer, Sri Madurai Somasundaram, Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam, Palghat Sri K.V.Narayanaswamy, Semmangudi Sri Srinivasa Iyer, Flute Sri N.Ramani, Dr.M.Balamurali Krishna and many other leading artistes. He has enthralled audiences all over India and at the cultural centres of United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore. He has received appreciation of violin Maestros like Mysore Sri T. Chowdiah, Sri Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Sri Kumbakonam Raja Manickam Pillai, etc. He has also received appreciation from Nadaswara Chakravarti Sri T.N.Rajaratnam Pillai

In 1984, Sri Chandrasekaran accompanied by his daughter Smt. G. Bharathi rendered benefit performances in aid of the Canadian National Association for the Blind which was a massive success. .

He received his first award, “Sangeetha Mani” in 1959 itself, from the holy hands of Ambattur Swamigal. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of music and excellence achieved by him, the Government of India honored him with the prestigious “Sangeet Natak Academy Award” in 1986. He has been honored with Kalaimamani Award by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1982. He has been honored by the Rotary Club in 1984 and 1985 and 1989. He was awarded the Mysore T.Chowdiah National Award in 1989. He won the Ugadi Puraskar Award in 1993. He was also made the Astana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt in 1993. He has been conferred with a host of other titles, namely: Vadhyaratnakara, Thantrivilas, Sangeeth Choodamani, Violin Everest, Sangeetha Rathna, Ezhisaivallal, Innisai Nadamani, Suswara Sugalaya Sangeetha, Violin Kalanidi, Nadasudarnava, Nadakanal, Madura Kala Praveena, Sangeetha Kala Sagara (Vizag), Sangeetha Kala Sagara (Secunderabad), Sangita Seva Nirata, Sangita Kala Sarathi, Violin Chakravarthi, Gana Kala Sironmani, Vani Kala Sudhakara, Papanasam Sivan Award, Arsha Kala Bhushanam, Sangeetha Thilakam, Isai Rasa Mamani, Gayaka Sikhamani, Sangeeth Bhushan, Saraswathi Award, Kalai Sudar, Sivan Isai Selvar, Hanumath Gana Sironmani, etc. Shri M. Chandrasekaran has given many records and cassettes consisting of accompaniment, solo and voco-violin performances. Sri M. Chandrasekaran celebrated his Shastiabdapoorthi in December 1997 when he was felicitated with a full size gold-plated silver violin by his disciples. A grand function was organised on 5 March 1999 by his children and disciples to celebrate his 50 years on stage. Sri Chandrasekaran has been awarded the title Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy, Chennai, for the year 2005. He was the FIRST recipient of the M.S.Subbulakshmi Award instituted by The Hindu in December 2005. Shri M.Chandrasekaran has also received awards for excellence in teaching. He was awarded Honorary Doctorate for his contributions to Carnatic music by Tumkur University in November 2011. The Government of India, honoured him with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi RatnaSadasyata) award in 2012.

Sri M. Chandrasekaran is an excellent composer too. He has composed many Keerthanas and Varnams. He was also a faculty member of the Palghat Music College as a visiting Professor. He has also given many lecture demonstrations on various aspects of music at various musical centres, the latest being a lecture demonstration on Annamacharya Sankeerthanams at the Music Academy. He takes pleasure in fostering the younger generation in music and has a good number of students to his credit, many of whom have blossomed into leading artistes of today. His daughter Smt G. Bharathi (Violin) and his son Sri Murali (Flute) follow in his footsteps.

He learnt Braille mainly from his mother and other teachers. He can read and write English and all Indian languages. He knows typewriting as well.

Sri M. Chandrasekaran started a trust along with his family and disciples in memory of his late mother Smt. Charubala Mohan, namely “Charubala Mohan Trust” in the year 1998. The trust has been honouring Vidwans, both vocal and instrumental, from different States, by giving titles and has also been arranging carnatic music performances regularly.