R. K. Srikantan | |
|---|---|
 Srikantan at Carnatic concert with T S Nandakumar and group in 2011 | |
| Born | Rudrapatna Krishnasastri Srikantan 14 January 1920 Rudrapatna, Hassan district, Karnataka |
| Died | 17 February 2014(2014-02-17) (aged 94) |
| Occupation | vocalist |
| Children | Rathnamala Prakash |
Rudrapatna Krishnashastri Srikantan (14 January 1920 – 17 February 2014), known asR. K. Srikantan, was a vocalist of theCarnatic musical tradition ofSouth Indian music. He was awarded theMadras Music Academy'sSangeetha Kalanidhi in 1995.
Srikantan was born to aSankethi Brahmin family inRudrapatna,[1][2]Hassan district ofKarnataka, onMakara Sankranti day, 14 January 1920. His father R Krishnashastri was anorator, singer ofGamaka (storytelling),playwright,poet, and aharikatha vidwan. His grandfather, Narayanaswamy of Bettadapura, also known as Veena Narayanaswamy was a Veena instrumentalist and a contemporary ofVeene Sheshanna and Veene Subbanna.[3]
Srikantan went toSadvidya Pathashala and Banumaiah High School inMysore. Later, he obtained his BA degree from theMaharaja College, Mysore.[citation needed]
His father Krishnashastri was Srikantan's first tutor and he moved to Mysore after his wife's death. Later, Srikantan was mentored by his brother R. K. Venkatarama Shastri, a violin player who often accompanied M S Subbulakshmi. Srikantan also received training from veteran musicians like Veene Subbanna andChowdiah.[3]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(October 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Srikantan was an avid attendee at all concerts inMysore during the era of theWodeyars. Srikantan during those days was highly influenced by theNadaswaram vidwans of his time. He was also highly influenced by maestros of the likes ofSemmangudi Srinivasa Iyer,Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar,Musiri Subramania Iyer,G N Balasubramaniam andMaharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer.
Srikantan's singing is characterised bysahitya shuddham (correct pronunciation and diction) andshruti shuddham (refinement of pitch).
Among the award received by Srikantan are:
Srikantan rendered teaching programs on the radio (On Amruthavarshini 100.1 FM).[citation needed]
Srikantan died on 17 February 2014 after a brief illness.[1]
Some of Srikantan's disciples include his son R S Ramakanth, B. K. Anantha Ram (Flutist),M. S. Sheela, T. S. Satyavati, R. A. Ramamani, M. T. Selvanarayana, Amith Nadig andH. K. Narayana.His daughterRathnamala Prakash is also his disciple, who achieved fame and success inSugama Sangeetha or light music.[11][12][13]
