Rich repository of kritis
SULOCHANA PATTABHIRAMAN
| In spite of his deep vidwath, Thiruvengadu Jayaraman sported a low profile and was never after opportunities, name, fame or lucre. |
Thiruvengadu A. Jayaraman.
In recent months it can be said that Carnatic music has received several blows in the passing away of senior musicians — K.R. Kedharanathan, Vidhooshi T. Muktha, mridangam stalwart Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and now Thiruvengadu A. Jayaraman.
Jayaraman who hails from Thiruvengadu near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu was born on September 6, 1933.
Extremely passionate about classical Carnatic music, he opted out of school after basic education.
Natural talent
Initiated into classical music at the age of 10 by Melattur Swaminatha Dikshitar, Jayaraman's natural talent and sensibilities were finely honed by none other than the redoubtable Madurai Mani.
He stayed with his guru for over 20 years as part of his gurukula vasam and increased his repertoire of kritis and absorbed all the finer nuances of Carnatic music. He provided vocal support to Mani Iyer in many concerts.
A performing artiste of All India Radio since 1958, Jayaraman was ranked as a Top Grade Artiste by Prasar Bharati.
He was featured in the national programmes and Sangeet Sammelan concerts. Organisations all over the country invited him to perform.
Jayaraman was a repository of a wide range of compositions by the Trinity, Sivan, Muthaiah Bhagavathar, Oothukkadu Venkatakavi, Arunachala Kavirayar, Muthu Thandavar, Marimutha Pillai, Swati Tirunal, Purandaradasa and so on.
Jayaraman was an authority on the compositions of the Siddhar fraternity and this scribe remembers him with gratitude for his contribution to her archival project of All India Radio where he sang a concert of rare `Siddhar Paadalgal.'
Jayaraman was a treasure house of virutham, largely comprising sage Agasthya's verses in Tamil and his soulful rendition created a serene atmosphere.
He never traded traditional values for glitz, glitter or glamour. Although he strode the path of Madurai Mani Iyer faithfully for decades, he also evolved his own style of musical expression with sruti alignment, involved singing and captivating sarvalagu kalpanaswara.
Following the practice of his guru, Jayaraman always included a Navagraha kriti of Dikshitar in his kutcheris. Jayaraman, in spite of his deep vidwat, sported a low profile and was never one to elbow his way seeking opportunities, name, fame or lucre. The vidwan was a great devotee of Devi and his deeply religious bent of mind was perhaps the reason why he was performing the aradhana of Tyagaraja at Thiruvaiyaru for several years.
Jayaraman was the recipient of many awards and titles including the Sangita Kala Praveena, Gana Kalanidhi, Dikshitha Kirtana Gana Mani, the Bodhaka award from the Music Academy, Chennai, and the national eminence award for excellence in fine arts from Sri Jayendra Saraswathi.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2005 was perhaps the ultimate recognition of this great vidwan.
He has trained many students who are being recognised in the performing sphere.
A vidwan of great dignity, Jayaraman maintained an impeccable sense of decorum on the concert stage.
Wonderful human being
In the demise of Tiruvengadu Jayaraman, I have lost my elder brother, and the entire musical fraternity, which held him in high esteem, has lost a gem of a musician who commanded respect as a great scholar, teacher, performer and as a wonderful person.
He came into our family fold when he was 14, (I was five years old then) and became the eldest son to my parents, preceding me so naturally and remained that way till his last breath. He was the stern, but caring elder brother to me and my younger sister.
He taught me cycling, swimming, etc., and groomed us as it were. We had such fun together during those days.
Jayaraman was a true `Guru Bhakta Shiromani' and his bhakti for my uncle Madurai Mani Iyer and my father T.S.Vembu Iyer and his loyalty and affection for my family were quite out of the world.
He was very orthodox, pious, had the courage of his own conviction, would never compromise on traditional values, was a conservative to the core and had no use for new fangled ways and ideas.
Jayaraman was totally devoted to Goddess Meenakshi.
My wife Vijayalakshmi, sister Shantha and myself were at his bedside singing "Meenakshi Me Mudam Dehi," a kriti he loved. We were told that he attained Her Lotus Feet peacefully just ten minutes after we left. A poignant end indeed!
To our family and to me personally, his passing away has left a vacuum that cannot be filled and a loss that cannot be compensated.
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