Naadham Academy for Music and Dance
Lineage
Smt. T. Brinda and Smt. T. Muktha
Shri K. J. Govindarajan
Smt. Brinda and Smt. Muktha were the one of the most important Carnatic vocal duos of the mid 20th century particularly known for their unique renditions of padams and javalis. As grand-daughters of the legendary Veena Dhanammal, they were the inheritors to her legacy and they popularized her school of Carnatic music. The sisters were trained by Naayana Pillai of Kanchipuram and their aunt Lakshmirathnam under Veena Dhanammal's watchful eye.
Their repetoire was replete with compositions by the trinity of Canrnatic music - Thyagaraja, Muttuswamy Dikshitar and Syama Sastri and compositions from Tiruppugazh and Tevaram. Their renditions of these songs was in the Dhanammal style, full of raaga, bhava and gamakas.
In 1973, Smt. Brinda was awarded the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award and in 1976, prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi by the Madras Music Academy. Smt. Muktha was presented with the Sangeeth Natak Academy award in 1973 and was bestowed with the 'National Artist' honour in 2004.
In 1973, Smt. Brinda was awarded the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award and in 1976, prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi by the Madras Music Academy. Smt. Muktha was presented with the Sangeeth Natak Academy award in 1973 and was bestowed with the 'National Artist' honour in 2004.
Shri K. J. Govindarajan's artistic journey began very early, through the influence of his flautist mother and his upbringing in Tanjore - the cradle of Carnatic tradition and Bharatha Natyam. He trained under Gurus Vidwan Narayanaswami, T. V. Namasivayam, Sikkil Ramaswami Pillai and Kripasamudra Swamigal. His background in the Carnatic music style served as a great advantage when he committed to learning Bharata Natyam, under Pichaya Pillai's Vidyalaya of the Pandanallur style.
Shri Govindarajan moved to Delhi, and began teaching at the Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi. He later established his own school, Bharatha Natya Niketan. His warm and generous personality soon attracted many to his style of Bharatha Natyam. Shri K. J. Govindarajan was dedicated to the art and sought to enrich it. He composed over 50 dance pieces. His compositions were published posthumously, in 1994, as the Bharatha Paamalai.