Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar (19 May 1890 – 23 January 1967[1]), popularly known asAriyakudi, was aCarnatic musicvocalist, born inAriyakudi, a town in the present-daySivaganga district ofTamil Nadu. Ariyakudi developed a unique style of singing which came to be known asThe Ariyakudi Tradition and is followed by his students. He is credited with establishing the modernkatcheri (concert) traditions in Carnatic music.[2][3][4]
In 1954, he was awarded theSangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour conferred bySangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. This was followed byPadma Bhushan byGovernment of India in 1958.[5]
Ariyakudi was born inAriyakudi, a village in the southernKaraikudi town in present-daySivaganga district ofTamil Nadu,South India, on 19 May 1890. He studied underPudukottai Malayappa Iyer andNamakkal Narasimha Iyengar in his early years.[6] Later he studied for several years underPoochi Srinivasa Iyengar,[6] the senior most disciple ofPatnam Subramania Iyer.[citation needed]
He married Ponnammal (in 1909) and the couple had two daughters. Later he set up another house with Kanjanur Sundarambal Dhanammal, who was a devadasi and became his student after which there was some kind of an association.[7]
He made his debut atTyagaraja Aradhana in 1918.[citation needed]
The doyen of Carnatic music,Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, is known to have remarked, "I was greatly influenced by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar. I do not want another life. But if there is one, I want to be able to sing like Ramanuja Iyengar".[8] And another maestro,G N Balasubramaniam, a contemporary of Ariyakudi, is known to have prostrated in front of him out of respect. Ariyakudi formed a formidable partnership on the concert platform withmridangam maestroPalghat Mani Iyer and two had a strong friendship born out of mutual respect.[9] Palghat Mani Iyer is reported to have said, "Annaa (Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar) and Iyengarval (Ariyakudi) are like my two eyes".
Ariyakudi's famous disciples include [V V Sadagopan]K V Narayanaswamy,B. Rajam Iyer,Alepey Venkatesan,Madurai N. Krishnan,[10] andAmbi Bhagavathar. He also had regular interactions withM.S. Subbulakshmi and shaped her musical interests.
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