| Sirkazhi Govindarajan | |
| Birth Name: | Sirkazhi Govindarajan[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1933 1, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Sirkazhi, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Death Place: | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Instrument: | Vocalist |
| Genre: | Film music (playback singing), Indian classical music |
| Occupation: | Singer, actor |
| Years Active: | 1952–1988 |
| Background: | non_performing_personnel |
Sirkazhi Govindarajan (19 January 1933 – 24 March 1988) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist and a leading playback singer of Indian cinema.[2] [3] [4] [5]
Govindarajan, was born on 19 January 1933 at Sirkazhi (a small town in present-day Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu; famed birthplace of Sambandar, one of the 63 Nayanars of the Saiva faith) to Siva Chidambaram and Avayambal Ammal. At the age of eight, Govindarajan began to perform at the Tirupurasundari Temple on the occasion of the Gnana Paal Festival.[6]
He graduated from the Tamil Isai College in Chennai (Madras) in 1949 with the degree 'Isaimani'.[7] He also graduated with the Degree of 'Sangeetha Vidwan'. At the same time, he started rigorous training (Gurukulavasam) under his Guru Thiruppampuram Swaminatha Pillai, who was then a professor at the Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras. Under his tutelage and in-depth study, he gained knowledge of the nuances and intricacies of Indian Music, especially, Classical Carnatic Music. During this period (1951–1952) he won many competitions, conducted by the Sangeetha Vidwat Sabha (Music Academy) and the Rasika Ranjani Sabha.
S. V. Venkataraman, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, S. Rajeswara Rao, S. Dakshinamurthi, V. Dakshinamoorthy, G. Ramanathan, C. N. Pandurangam, Master Venu, K. V. Mahadevan, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, G. Devarajan, B. Narasimma Rao, A. Rama Rao, T. Chalapathi Rao, T. G. Lingappa, P. Adinarayana Rao, T. R. Pappa, Ghantasala, Vedha, G. K. Venkatesh, M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, V. Kumar, A. M. Rajah, C. Ramachandra, Ilaiyaraaja, and Shankar–Ganesh, Baburaj
He has sung with other male singers such as M. S. Viswanathan, T. M. Soundararajan, Ghantasala, P. B. Sreenivas, S. C. Krishnan, Tiruchi Loganathan, A. L. Raghavan, K. J. Yesudas and S. V. Ponnusamy.
He also sang duets with many female singer such as M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, K. Jamuna Rani, Jikki, P. Susheela, K. Rani, L. R. Eswari, L. R. Anjali, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathinmala, T. V. Rathnam, Bangalore A. R. Ramani Ammal, Vani Jairam, S. Janaki, M. R. Vijaya, Sarala and Rohini.
He sang duets with singing actors such as N. S. Krishnan, T. R. Mahalingam, P. Bhanumathi, S. Varalakshmi and Manorama.
| Year | Movie | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Kandhan Karunai | Nakkeerar | |
| 1969 | Vaa Raja Vaa | Police Officer | |
| 1970 | Thirumalai Thenkumari | Bhagavathar shivachidambaram | |
| 1972 | Agathiyar | Agathiyar | |
| 1972 | Dheivam | Cameo Appearance | |
| 1973 | Rajaraja Cholan | Nambiyandar Nambi | |
| 1975 | Thiruvarul | Cameo Appearance | |
| 1976 | Dasavatharam | Naradhar | |
| 1982 | Thaai Mookaambikai | Cameo Appearance |
See main article: Sirkazhi Govindarajan discography.
Govindarajan had sung for many leading actors like M. G. Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan, N. T. Rama Rao, S. S. Rajendran, and R. Muthuraman.
He was the recipient of three gold medals (first place) in the austere and hallowed halls of Sangeetha Vidwat Sabha (Music Academy) from Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer. "Sangeetha Vidwan" Sirkali won all first places in the three categories: Apoorva Krithis of Sri Thyagaraja swamigal, Ragam-Thalam-Pallavi, and Tamil Classical Songs.
He was conferred the Padma Shri award by the Government of India. The Central College of Carnatic Music was the next institution for his musical enrichment.
Govindarajan had also done playback singing in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films.[8] Madras University conferred a doctorate (Honoris Causa) on him in 1983.
Source:[9]
Govindarajan was married to Sulochana. Their son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer.[12]
Govindarajan died on 24 March 1988 in Madras (now Chennai) due to a massive heart attack. He was aged 55.