N. Rajam Explained

Dr N. Rajam
Birth Place:Chennai, India
Occupation:violinist
Awards:
Module:
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Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Genre:CarnaticHindustani classical music
Instrument:violin

N. Rajam (born 8 April 1938) is an Indian violinist who performs Hindustani classical music. She remained professor of music at Banaras Hindu University, eventually became head of the department and the dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts of the university.

She was awarded the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.

Early life and training

N. Rajam was born in Chennai in 1938 in a musical family. Her father, Vidwan A. Narayana Iyer was a well-known exponent of Carnatic music.[1] Her brother, T. N. Krishnan, was a prominent violinist of the Carnatic style. Rajam started her initial training in Carnatic music under her father. She also trained under Musiri Subramania Iyer, and learned raga development from vocalist Omkarnath Thakur.

Rajam received the prestigious titles of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.

Personal life

N.Rajam is married to T.S.Subramanian, a chartered accountant and a former executive of Life Insurance Corporation of India. Her mother in law Mrs. Padma Swaminathan,social activist and Carnatic music singer, was the last surviving daughter of F. G. Natesa Iyer[2] [3] Mrs. Vani Jairam,playback singer in South Indian cinema, is her sister in law.

Performing career

Under the guidance of her father, A. Narayana Iyer, Rajam developed the Gayaki Ang (vocal style). Rajam has performed across the globe and in numerous places throughout India.

Rajam was a professor of music at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in the Faculty of Performing Arts for nearly 40 years. She has been the chair of the department and the dean of the college at BHU.

Students

She trained her daughter Sangeeta Shankar, her granddaughters Ragini Shankar and Nandini Shankar, her niece Kala Ramnath, Pranav Kumar, Prof. V. Balaji (B.H.U.) and Dr. Satya Prakash Mohanty

Awards

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Entertainment News: Latest Bollywood & Hollywood News, Today's Entertainment News Headlines.
  2. News: . Coimbatore: Fans, family celebrate Padma Swaminathan's hundred and first birthday. featured her famous musician daughter-in-law Dr N Rajam, her daughter Sangeetha Shankar, and her grandchildren Ragini Shankar and Nandini Shankar giving a brilliant violin concert accompanied by Kedar Kharaton on table. That was followed by another world famous musician Vani Jairam, another daughter-in-law, rendering two compositions.. Deccan Chronicle. 9 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Padma Swaminathan's 100th birthday. 15 May 2018 . srutimag.blogspot.com . Sruthi Magazine . The two-day celebration of Padma Swaminathan’s 100th birthday on 1 December at Brindavan Hill, Coimbatore was attended by her family including (L to R): Nandini Shankar (great granddaughter), Shankar Devraj (Sangita’s husband), T.S. Jairam (son) and Vani Jairam, Padma Swaminathan, N. Rajam and T.S. Subramanian (son), Sangita Shankar (granddaughter) and Ragini Shankar (great granddaughter). It was followed by a violin concert by N. Rajam (daughter-in-law) with Sangita, Nandini and Ragini accompanied by Kedar Kharaton (tabla). Vocalist Vani Jairam (daughter-in-law) rendered a few compositions..
  4. Web site: SNA: List of Akademi Awardees Instrumental (Sarangi). Sangeet Natak Akademi. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172056/http://sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist-violin.htm. dead. 2016-03-03. 2009-07-06.
  5. Web site: Padma Awards. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. 2009-07-06.
  6. News: Briefly . https://web.archive.org/web/20070509050448/http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/05/stories/2004030510470300.htm . dead . 2007-05-09 . Chennai, India . . 2004-03-05.
  7. Web site: Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Awards 2012 . Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India . 28 May 2012.
  8. Web site: Album – A Duet On Strings on Itunes. iTunes. Mumbai, India.