GNB - The Vasanthathilakam Of Carnatic Music - I

Dear Friends, 

Excerpts of my article published in Brahma Sandesham, September 2011 Edition

Note: Being a Carnatic Music student, recently, I happened to read the biographies of some of the stalwarts in Carnatic music. Among which life history of  Sangita Kalanidhi Sri G N Balasubramaniam fascinated me a lot. I am sharing some of the golden episodes that took place in his life and musical voyage.

Gudalur, 19kms away from Mayiladuthurai- GNB’s ancestors hailed from this village. His father, GV Narayanaswami Iyer was a great lover of music and  had good association with stalwarts of those days. This made him  proficient in “Lakhshana & Lakshya” aspects of Carnatic music.  Later on, he moved to Madras and worked in the Hindu High School, Triplicane. His love for music and his earlier contacts with great vidwans brought him in close contact with Parthasarathi Swami Sabha. Later, he became the secretary of this sabha, and also the headmaster of the school.

Narayanaswami Iyer was married to Visalam Ammal and had their first child on 6^th January 1910. They named him Balasubramaniam and called him affectionately “Mani”. Mani had the greatest chance of listening to the choice music of the era. He was musically alert and attentively listened to any concert, he was given a chance to. Great musicians like Palladam Sanjeeva Rao, Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar were regular visitors to his house. Mani developed good swara jnana. He had the gifted ability of converting into swaras, the minute twists & turns and the fast glittering Brighas as well. During this period, Mani used to take lessons from Madurai Subramania Iyer, a violinist, and a co-tenant, where they lived. Mani was then singing in a very high pitch, and in an uncontrollable speed.

The great vidwans and musicologists who visited their house sometimes asked him to sing. On one such occasion, Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar made a surprise visit; Seeing Narayanaswami giving cautions to Mani, to reduce his speed, Ariyakkudi interfered and said, “Let him sing according to his manodharma and at his natural speed; As years go by, the voice will settle down and get mellowed. I see a bright future in this boy”.   

Mani had the good fortune of obtaining necessary guidance and encouragement from Ariyakkudi. He also had a good & unhindered education. He took his BA (honours) from Madras Christian College.

In the meanwhile,  Narayanaswami Iyer was appointed as the principal of Annamalai University, Chidambaram founded by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar. Young GNB  was asked to join the university so that he can study music. Impressed by his singing, Annamalai Chettiar, who has been a great patron of fine arts, rewarded him with a silver plate heaped with silver coins. GNB considered this one as a highlight of his career.

(to be continued)