Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar

Who was Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar?

Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, popularly known as Ariyakudi, was a Carnatic Music vocalist, born in Ariyakudi a town in the Karaikudi district, present Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. Ariyakudi developed unique style of singing came to be known as The Ariyakudi Tradition and is followed by his students. He established the modern katcheri traditions in Carnatic music.

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". And another maestro G N Balasubramaniam, a contemporary of Ariyakudi is known to have prostrated in front of him out of respect. With Palghat Mani Iyer, the Mridangam maestro, he formed a formidable partnership on the concert platform and a remarkable friendship born out of mutual respect. Palghat Mani Iyer is to have said Anaa and Iyengarval are like my two eyes.

In 1954, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship the highest honour conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. This was followed by Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 1958.