Calcutta K.S. Krishnamurthi (1921-1999)

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Calcutta K.S. Krishnamurthy born on December 21,1921 grew up in a musical enviornment. During his early days G.V.Narayanaswamy (father of G.N.B.) was his teacher. It was association with G.V.N. that ignited his musical instincts.

Later he joined Annamalai University ,a model institution for learning Carnatic music, which had doyens such as Tiger Varadachariyar, Sattur Krishna Iyengar, Ponniah Pillai and Madurai Subramaniya Iyer as its staff.

Calcutta Krishnamurthi's association with the legendary composer of this Century, Papanasam Sivan, brought to fore many of the latter's rare compositions.

In the late 50s, when concert opportunities were few and far between mainly because of the domination by stalwarts, KSK moved to Calcutta. It was here that KSK's creative instincts bloomed. He set to music the songs of Subramaniya Bharati, Suddhananda Bharati, Ramalinga Swami, Jayadeva, Meerabai, Bharatidasan, Kannadasan etc. Getting back to Chennai in the early 70s, KSK was a reference point for most musicians, old and young.

As a musician, KSK's strength was his raga alapana. He could elaborate ragas for any length of time and was equally at home with rakthi ragas and apoorva ragas. His immaculate swara gnanam and gamaka suddham were the hallmarks of his music. KSK had composed varnams, kritis and tillanas besides setting compositions to music.

Hailing from a traditional background, Krishnamurthi's interest in propagating Carnatic music and appreciation of innovations, motivated him to make a major contribution in the first Video CD on Carnatic music, titled `Nadopasana', towards the learning and understanding of Carnatic music.

He breathed music till his last on May 16, 1999.