| Umayalpuram K Sivaraman | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 17, 1935 Tanjore, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Occupation | mridangist |
Umayalpuram K Sivaraman (b. December 17, 1935) is one of the topmost mridangam artists of the day.
Contents |
Early life
Introducing the topmost Mridangam Vidwan of all times, Shri.Umalyapuram.K.Sivaraman. His new techniques and Innovations coupled with Solo redentions and Jagalbandhi Programmes with his North Indian folks have made him an evergreen personality in the world of Art. Born on December 17, 1935 to Dr P. Kasiviswanatha Iyer and Smt Kamalambal in the city of Tanjore,Shri Sivaraman learnt the divine art of Mridangam from four great masters, Sri Arupathi Natesa Iyer, Sri Tanjavoor Vaidyanatha Iyer, Sri Palghat Mani Iyer and Sri Kumbakonam Rangu Iyengar. He graduated in Arts and Law from the University of Madras(B.A.,B.L) before becoming a full-time Mridangam artist. Sivaraman’s quest and love for Mridangam was first identified by his father who nurtured his ‘gifted’ son by having his ‘Arangetram’ as early as at the age of Ten. His Percussion Career took a colorful thrust and he played for a series of Music Maestros namely, Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Sri Musiri Subramania Iyer, Sri Palladam Sanjeeva Rao, Sri Mysore Chowdiah, Sri Rajamanickam Pillai, Sri Papa Venkataramiah, Sri Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu, Sri Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer, Sri G. N. Balasubramaniam, Sri Madurai Mani Iyer, Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Sri Alathur Brothers, Sri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Dr Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Dr M. Balamuralikrishna, Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthi, Sri Voleti Venkateswarulu, Sri S. Balachander, Sri T.R. Mahalingam, etc. His expertise and innovations won him laurels and numerous reviews. ‘The Hindu’ reviewed Sivaraman’s Percussion as "The mellifluous mrudangam artistry with which Umayalpuram Sivaraman heightened the natural rhythmic liveliness and gait of the alternating swara movements by the singer and violinist in the Natabhairavi song acquired a range of breath-taking beauty in the superb thani which followed. It was feast of tonal richness and polished rhythmic virtuosity. His support of the music generally was delicately chiselled and marked often by a concealed sense of drama. Whenever the performance tended to slip to dullness, Sivaraman interfered and jacked it with his rousing rhythm. The 'thani' was exciting with arithmetical bouts".
Career
Right from his childhood, Sivaraman was initiated into Carnatic music and mridangam. His father, had with insight and intuition nurtured the inborn talents of his son and got him rightly initiated into mrudangam through the gurukula discipline under scholarly practitioners. Even at the age of three, it was inherent that Sivaraman had an inborn talent in him to produce music from objects around him and invented diverse "talas" thereby earning the praise and appreciation of his grandmother who gifted him a kanjira. As a boy of ten, Sivaraman had his ‘arangetram’ (first concert) and the debut was held in the precincts of Kalahastheeswaraswami temple in the temple town of Kumbakonam. By ten, he was recognized as a top-notch mridangam player.
Research
Besides his professional career, Shri.Sivaraman has also done original research in Mridangam. His analysis of the ingredients of the black patch has given much insight on the overtones produced by different strokes on the mrudangam. Sivaraman was also a regular contributor to Sri Shanmukhananda Sabha's (Bombay) Journal, Bhavan's Journal; Vadya Kala. He has also given numerous lecture demonstrations at He has given lecture demonstrations at The Music Academy, Madras; Tamil Nadu Isai Kalluri; University of Madras; National Museum, New Delhi; Sri Shanmukhananda Sabha, Bombay; Indira Kala Viswa Vidyalaya, Khiragarh; The Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney; and in the United States of America etc.
He was conferred the award ‘Padmashri’ by the Government of India in 1988. Sivaraman has completed more than 50 years of service to Carnatic music. His Services are ever remembered and cherished and he stands as a perfect epitome to the upcoming Music Enthusiasts.
References
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