Sri Lalgudi Jayarama Iyer (born September 17, 1930) is a violinist of legendary fame performing Carnatic music. He comes from a well-known lineage of Thyagaraja, the great saint musician. His father was the late V R Gopala Iyer, an expert Carnatic musician under whom he got trained. G J R Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, the son and daughter of Sri Lalgudi Jayarama Iyer continued the family tradition of music.
Education and Musical Career
Lalgudi Jayarama Iyer became an accompanying violinist in concerts of leading maestros at the age of 12 itself. He quickly learned and became a brilliant solo violinist.
Lalgudi Bani
He invented a totally new technique called ‘Lalgudi Bani’ which, though rooted in the tradition, is original, graceful and fascinating. He composed several ‘tillanas’, ‘kritis’ and ‘varnams’ as well as dance compositions; all a brilliant combination of raga, bhava, rhythm and poetic beauty. Specifically remarkable is the expressiveness of his music.
Many legendary vocalists such as Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, Madurai Mani Iyer, G. N Balasubramaniam, K.V.Narayanaswamy, D. K. Jayaraman, Maharajapuram Santhanam, T. V. Sankaranarayanan, M.Balamuralikrishna, and T. N. Seshagopalan wanted him accompany them.
It was Lalgudi who brought the Carnatic style of playing violin to international attention. In 1996, he launched a new concept of musical ensemble with violin, venu (flute) and vina based on which he gave a number of memorable concerts. He was acclaimed most for his Thillanas and Varnams. He composed in four languages viz Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit, and in ragas that are not traditionally used for Varnams or Thillanas. His compositions are commonly used by Bharathanatyam dancers and Carnatic musicians.
Lalgudi extensively toured in India and internationally giving performance. He was a member of the Indian Cultural Delegation of the Government of India to Russia. Yehudi Menuhin, the well known violinist, revered him with a presentation of an Italian violin at the 1965 Edinburgh Music Festival.
In 1979, the International Music Council, Baghdad, Iraq Broadcasting Agency and Asian Pacific Music Rostrum adjudged Lalgudi’s recordings as the best from amongst 77 entries from different countries. He represented India at the Festival of India in USA and London. The lyrics and music for the operatic ballet 'Jaya Jaya Devi' that premiered at Cleveland in the US in 1994 was composed by him. A concert by him followed by 'Pancheswaram', a Dance Drama composed by him was staged in UK which was a grand success.
Important works
Lalgudi’s compositions include:
Varnams: Chalamu séyanéla (Valaji raga), Parama karuna (Garudadhvani raga), Neevé gatiyani (Nalinakanthi raga), Neevégaani (Mandari raga), Vallabhai nayaka (Mohana kalyani raga), Devi un paadamé (Devi un paadamé raga) and Unnai yand'ri (Kalyani raga).
Pada Varnams: Innum en manam (Charukesi raga), Senthil mevum (Neelambari raga), Devar munivar tozhum (Shanmughapriya raga) and Angayarkanni (Ragamalika raga -Navarasa pada varnam) Thillanas: Vasanta (Telugu), Darbari Kaanada (Tamil), Bageshri (Tamil), Desh (Desh), Hameer kalyani (Telugu), Behag (Tamil), Anandabhairavi (Telugu), Kapi (Tamil), Tilang (Tamil), Dwijavanti (Sanskrit), Pahadi (Sanskrit), Kaanada (Tamil), Kuntalavarali (Tamil), Brindavani (Tamil), Kadanakuthuhalam (Tamil), Mohanakalyani (Sanskrit), Yamuna kalyani (Tamil), Sindhubhairavi (Tamil), Chenchurutti (Tamil), Bhimplas(Tamil), Rageshri (Telugu), Revathi (Tamil), Vaasanti (Tamil), Madhuvanti (Tamil), Khamas (Tamil), Misrasivaranjani (Tamil), Mand (Tamil), Hamsanandi (Tamil), Karnaranjani (Tamil), Nalinakanthi (Tamil) and Bindumalini (Tamil).
Awards and Achievement of Sri Lalgudi Jayarama Iyer
Lagudi Jayarama Iyer received several titles and awards that included 'Nada Vidya Tilaka' (by Music Lovers’ Association of Lalgudi in 1963), 'Padma Shri’ (by the Government of India in 1972), 'Nada Vidya Rathnakara' (by East West Exchange in New York), 'Vadya Sangeetha Kalaratna' (by Bharathi Society, New York), 'Sangeetha Choodamani' (by Federation of Music Sabhas, Madras in 1971 and in 1972), State Vidwan of Tamil Nadu (by the Government of Tamil Nadu), Sangeetha Natak Academy award (1979), the First Chowdaiah Memorial National-Level award and Padma Bhushan (by the Government of India in 2001).
He was the recipient of honorary citizenship of Maryland, U.S. in 1994.
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