Prof M. Subramania Sarma
| Prof M. Subramania Sarma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | M. Subramania Sarma |
| Born | 23 March 1937 Alappuzha, Alappuzha District |
| Died | 7 September 2020 (aged 83) Trivandrum, Kerala, India |
| Genres | Indian classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Violinist, composer |
| Instruments | Violin |
| Years active | 1947–2019 |
Prof. M. Subramania Sarma (23 March 1937 – 7 September 2020) was an Indian Carnatic violinist and composer from Trivandrum, Kerala. He was a performing artist and was a professor at Swathi Thirunal Music College, Trivandrum.
Early life and background
M. Subramania Sarma was born into a family of musicians who were adherents of Carnatic idiom. His parents were Smt. M. Lakshmi Ammal and Shri. K. Mahadeva Iyer. He was initiated into the world of Carnatic music by his father, an established Mridangam expert and a disciple of Mridangam Maestro Shri. Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai. Later he went on to be trained under the tutelage of Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.
Career
A trend-setter and avant-garde musician, Sarma carved a niche for himself as a Carnatic music violinist by developing innovative techniques and postures, excelling in gayaka style (vocalisation) and gamakas (ornamentation). He incidentally introduced, for the first time in Kerala, the positioning of the violin’s bout on a collar-bone and scroll at the inner angle while playing it. This position aids the performer to hold the violin firmly while carrying out complicated gamakas.
Sarma started delivering hundreds of on-stage professional performances at the age of 17. His rich and eventful journey in music landed him a job as a faculty member at the famed Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. During his time as faculty, he trained many illustrious students, cohorts of students like M. G. Radhakrishnan, Sri Raveendran, Sri Easwara Varma and Sri C. S. Anuroop, along with his son Shri. S. R. Mahadeva Sarma and Smt. S. R. Rajasree. His children are remarkable violinists in their own right. He had a career as a violinist spanning over seven decades. He has made numerous appearances in India and internationally, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, and countries in the Gulf region at RAS AL KHAIMAH radio and at Abu Dhabi radio, as well as for institutions such as B.B.C.
Sarma was known for his compassion for fellow beings. He helped talented and enthusiastic artists gain a foothold in the music industry, even covering costs for those who couldn't afford the tuition fees. Sarma's philanthropy, skill and commitment to a cause make him not only a musician par excellence but also a paragon of virtue. During the 1960s, there was a dearth of violinists in Kerala; he played a noteworthy role in spotting, encouraging young talent and promoting Indian classical music by giving impetus to the upcoming violinists of those days.
Awards
Sarma's outstanding contributions have been recognised by many prestigious bodies as below:
- The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in the year 1986
- The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy fellowship in the year 2014
- The Papa Venkataramaiah award of the Madras Music Academy in the year 2011
- The Acharya Kala Bhaarathi of Bharath Kalachar in the year 2015
- The Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust senior most violinist award in the year 2015
Personal life
Sarma was married to Smt Renuka and has two children: a son, S.R. Mahadeva Sarma, and a daughter, S.R. Rajasree. Both follow the footsteps of their father and are famous in their own right. His grandson G. R. Vaidhyanatha Sarma, son of S. R. Rajasree, is an upcoming violinist.
Sarma died on 7 September 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest in Trivandrum.
Notable Works
Sarma has given violin accompaniment to Padmabhooshan Dr. K. J. Yesudas at London in connection with the world Tamil conference in the year 1982 and in the first world Malayalee conference, which was the first American classical music tour in 1983. He has accompanied many prominent musicians including Shri. Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bagavathar, Padmasri Shri. K. V. Narayana Swamy, Dr. S. Ramanathan, Shri. D. K. Jayaraman, Smt. D. K. Pattammal, Shri. Seergazhi Govindarajan, Shri. Madurai Somasundaram, Smt. Veena Balachandar, Padmabhushan Shri K. S. NarayanaSwamy, Shri. T. V. Shankaranarayanan and Shri Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan in concert and is indispensable to the music of many other eminent personalities.
All India Radio has archived Sarma's concert for posterity. He has also been recognised by All India Radio as one of the leading violin artists, making him one of the longest serving violinists in Kerala.
References
External links
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