Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao (2)
| Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao (2) | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vuyyuru, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Mridangam |
Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao is an Indian percussionist, primarily adept in the mridangam. He is one of the eminent South Indian mridangam players of India. He initially started learning mridangam from Sri Kondapaturi Ranganayakulu,Sri Potluri Veera Raghavaiah Chowdary and Sri Tirupathi Ramanuja Suri.Later he seasoned his talent from legendary mridanga vidwan Sri Palani Subramaniam Pillai.Ram Mohan Rao was hailed as "Maestro of Mridangam" and also the creator of unique style named as "Dandamudi style" of mridangam playing.
Early life and career[edit]
Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao was born on 31st December 1930 in Vuyyuru, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh to Sri Rama Swamy Chowdary and Smt.Seshamma.Though he hailed from a family which has no introduction to music,he somehow developed a penchant towards mridanga vadyam.He started learning mridangam at a very tender age of 6 from Sri Kondapaturi Ranganayakulu,Sri Potluri Veera Raghavaiah Chowdary,Sri Tirupathi Ramanuja Suri and Sri Eedara Nagaraju.Later under the guidance of legendary mridanga vidwan Sri Palani Subramaniam Pillai in the school of Pudukottai tradition,he improved his skills.He gave his initial stage performance at the age of nine.By sheer dint of hard work and dedication to this divine art,over years he joined the category of Top mridangists.The tonal quality of his play is an attraction even to those who do not have ear for such percussion instrument which regaled the audience.He always strived for new creations in Mridangam play and this led to the creation of a unique style of playing which is now known as "Dandamudi Style".He carved a niche for himself in the music world.
Ram Mohan Rao always treated Mridangam as his life.Throughout he treated this art piously,ensured sruthipakvam and attributed divinity to this instrument - mridangam.Synchronization of left and right is the highlight of his play.He was known for his simplicity and benevolence. Sri Dandamudi was also a great teacher of Mridanga vadya.He was probably one among very few gurus who could adjudge the capaticy of his student and teach him in different ways suiting to one's receptivity.He was considered expert not only in teaching,but also in exxhibiting his skill in "Thani" on Mridanga.He toured France especially to take-up the teaching assignment in the University of Paris and other places.His students are in India and abroad,as veteran artistes and their identity as disciples of Sri Dandamudi need not to be made known separately as their "Dandamudi style" of play itself speaks of this fact.Many of them are employed in All India Radio,Telugu University,Government colleges and other organizations.As an "A-Top" grade artist in mridangam and also as an employee of All India Radio,he served for more than five decades.He accompanied many legendary vidwans of country and toured so many countries.He was instrumental in bringing in bringing Pudukkottai tradition to Andhra Pradesh and for its popularity across the state.
His student and also his wife Smt.Dandamudi Sumathi Ram Mohan Rao was an "A-Top" grade mridangam artist and they are the only "A-Top" grade mridangam duo of our country.In 2000, they established an organization named "Laya Vedika" to promote the percussion instrument mridangam and used to conduct competitions for students and also used to confer many renowned vidwans with title "Laya Praveena".After his death on 31st January 2011, the sabha's name was changed to "Sri Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao Laya Vedika" and his wife continues conducting programmes annually.On his death anniversary i.e 31st January 2012,as a tribute,his bronze statue was unveiled in the Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram,Vijayawada owned by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation so that he can be remembered for his services to the field of music for the generations together.
Accolades[edit]
Awards and honours[edit]
- Asthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in 1977.
- Kanakabhishekam by Thyagaraja Gana Sabha,Bhimavaram,Andhra Pradesh.
- "Suvarna Sumabhishekam" by Sri Thyagaraja Narayana Das committee,Rajahmundry
- Honoured by Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University,Hyderabad
- Ugadi felicitation by Madras Telugu Academy in 1991
- Palghat Mani Iyer Memorial award by Percussive Arts Centre,Bangalore
- Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 1994
- Ugadi felicitation by government of Andhra Pradesh in the year 2005 with "Hamsa award"
Honorary titles[edit]
- Nada Bhageeratha by Parupalli Rama Krishnaiah Pantulu Sangeetha Samakhya
- Kala Praveena by Andhra Pradesh Sangeetha Nataka Academy
- Mridanga Sabdha Brahma by Thyagaraja Narayana Das Committee
- Sangeetha Vidwanmani by Thyagaraja Sangeetha Kala Samithi
- Mridanga Kala Siromani by Percussive Arts Centre,Bangalore
- Sangeetha Kala Sagara by Visakha Music Academy
- Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani on the occasion of diamond jubilee of Sri Thyagaraja Festival Committee,Tirupathi
References[edit]
- ↑ Rao, P. Surya (February 10, 2011). "A legendary percussionist" – via www.thehindu.com.
- ↑ "CUR_TITLE". sangeetnatak.gov.in.
- ↑ "Palani Subramania Pillai". m.facebook.com.
- ↑ "Dandamudi Sumathi RammohanRao". m.facebook.com.
Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao[edit]
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