Centenary Celebrations of Composer Smt. Kalyani Varadarajan

In the enchanting world of Carnatic Music, the composers have played a vital role in sustaining the sampradaya (tradition) and at the same time taking it further by their own innovative contributions with their consummate skills. One such unique composer of contemporary times and one of the outstanding women composers of the times is the late Smt. Kalyani Varadarajan.

Smt. Kalyani Varadarajan (1923-2003) has the distinction of composing in all the 72 mela Karta ragas and very rare/Apoorva ragas. She had an in-born skill to compose lyrics and set them into music herself from an early age. Being brought up in a family of scholars in Telugu and Sanskrit, Smt. Kalyani started her initiation in Camatic music in Veena and vocal at an early age under her mother and sister and under able gurus.

Smt. Kalyani Varadarajan had the rare distinction of being a   performing musician in three different genres and graded in vocal, violin, and veena and has given concerts on the AIR and on the stage. She has toured to USA and Japan etc. for   concerts during the days when global travel was not particularly common like the present day.

Smt. Kalyani passed away on 28^th October 2003. Her contribution to the world of Carnatic music is laudable and is appreciated and her memories are   cherished through her compositions.

Kalyani Varadarajan was born to Sriman Nadadoor Ammal Narasimhachariar and Srimati Singarammal.  Her father was a scholar in Telugu and Sanskrit languages, who served as a teacher, headmaster and finally as an educational inspector, while her mother was a musician. Kalyani had a taste to write and compose songs since a young age, and she underwent vocal and veena training, first under her mother and later under other able gurus. Thereafter, she learned to play violin. She had her debut in veena performance at the age of 16 in 1942.

Many of her compositions are already well recognized and prevalent in the concert circuit. Veterans like Madurai Somasundaram, TR Subramanian, S Rajam, Veena S. Balachander, the Hyderabad Sisters, the Hyderabad Brothers to name a few have sung her kritis in their concerts and now the present generation are also taking it forward.

Select compositions of Kalyani Varadarajan have come out in books and some more are coming up for publication.

Now some of Kalyani Varadarajan’s fan club have organized a Centenary Celebration under the joint banner of Sri Hayagriva and Shri Subha Siddhi Vinayaka Mandhir on the 29^th of October to commemorate and remember Her and Her fantastic Carnatic Music Compositions.

All are cordially welcome.

Date: 29^th October Sunday

Time: 5:00 Pm Onwards

Venue: Sri Subha Sidddhi Vinayaka Mandhir Society,

             Pocket 4, Mayur Vihar Phase -1 Delhi 110091

Program: 5.00 PM to 6.00 PM

1. Smt. Alamelu Parameswaran
2. Dr. Saroja Raman
3. Sree Brothers

6.15 PM onwards

Vidwan Aditya Madhavan – Chennai Vocal

 Shri G. Raghavendra Prasad – Violin

 Shri Kumbakonam N. Padmanabhan – Mridangam

8.15 Onwards

Centenary Celebrations followed by dinner.

RSVP: Dr. Saroja Raman +91 9873138864 (also WhatsApp Number)

            Email Id sarojaraman@gmail.com

            Mrs. Meena Venki Ph +91 7678604150

            Email Id meena.venki94@gmail.com