Smt. SEETHA RAJAN
MUSICIAN SCHOLAR GURU
Versatile Musician
Sangita Kala Acharya Smt Seetha Rajan, a versatile musician, a ‘Top’ Grade
artiste of the All India Radio, Scholar and Guru is well known for her
traditional and chaste music. She was born in 1947 to Sri.N.Subramaniam and
Smt.Lakshmi Subramaniam who had great passion for classical music. At an early
age she came under the tutelage of a dedicated teacher, Sri Kittamani Iyer from
whom she learnt for over a decade. Subsequently a National Talent Scholarship
(Govt. of India) gave her an opportunity for advanced training under ‘Sangeeta
Pitamaha’ Semmangudi Srinivasier, which honed her talents and broadened her
musical vision. She learnt Hindustani vocal music from Sri Bhim Shankar Rao in
Her Music;
Vidvat and Vishranti
Endowed with a soothing and mellifluous voice, she announced her arrival into the world of classical music by winning the First Prize in the All India Radio competition in 1967 and several other laurels all in a row. Performances in a number of prestigious Sabhas followed. Today her music is characterized by profound Vidvat and Vishranti. Her rendering of Vilambakala Krithis such as the Kamalamba Navavaranam of Dikshitar is well known. She has evolved her own style, absorbing the ingredients of great stalwarts and following her own musical instincts. With her knowledge of several languages and her emphasis on correct diction, she has been able to capture the mood and spirit of any song she sings, which in turn is translated into a unique Anubhava for rasikas.
Magnum
Opus -- Balabrundam Sangita Gurukulam
Adherence to tradition has not bound her from being innovative. Ever analytical, she has been constantly experimenting with new ideas particularly in the field of musical pedagogy. Her contribution to the world of music, one may say her Magnum Opus, is the creation of Bala Brundam Sangita Gurukulam, an institution of quality, where disciplined and holistic training in music and knowledge of other allied subjects like languages and instrumental training are emphasized. The aim of this institution is to qualitatively prepare a small band of committed learners who are to contribute to future generations holistically as Musicians, Scholars and Gurus.
Gurukulam Training -- Impact
Eight disciples of Seetha Rajan are graded artistes of the All India Radio. A few are faculty members in colleges. Three disciples are working towards their doctoral thesis. Six senior students are proud winners of the coveted “Sangeetha Sri” title from Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Trichy. A few are training young learners in music.
Research work and Thematic Features
Seetha Rajan has
carried out research on several musical subjects and has produced and staged a
number of thematic presentations alongwith her disciples. Some of the popular
ones are Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam, Nauka Charitram, Krishna Leela Tarangini, Devi
Darsanam, Ramanubhavam, Guruguho Jayati, Varuna Ragam, Shivaya Namaha and
Eternal India.
Consultant
-- Carnatica
She has contributed to the Carnatica Archival Centre (CAC) as a consultant and teacher for their Cyber-vidyalaya and has been a member of the Expert’s Panel for their Raganubhava series of lectures and presentations, wherein the Balabrundam Gurukulam participated actively for a couple of years
Composing and albums
Musicology
Seetha Rajan was involved with The Music
Academy,
Senior
Research fellowship
With a Senior Research
Fellowship awarded by the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, she worked on her
thesis – “An attempt at nalyzing and restructuring the curriculum for students
of Carnatic Music(vocal)” Seetha Rajan is currently a visiting professor in
Kalakshetra, Chennai and a member of (Experts) Advisory Committee of the Music
Academy, Madras.
Books
Two books have been
brought out by Seetha Rajan with notations of Navagraha Krithis and Kalmalamba
Navavarana Krithis of Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Tarangams of Narayana Tirtha.
Project Bodhana
Keen to disseminate her
technique to benefit maximum young learners of classical Carnatic music, Smt.
Seetha Rajan has been involved in ‘Project Bodhana’. Her first set of music
lessons titled “Bodhana” both in CD and cassette form, have been since released
through Charsur Digital Station, Chennai. This ‘Bodhana’ CD / Cassette has since
been widely welcomed and appreciated.
Honours and Awards
Seetha Rajan was honoured with the respected Birudu “ACHARYA CHOODAMANI” by Sri
Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai in August 2006. The prestigious “SANGITA KALA
ACHARYA” Birudu by The Music Academy,
Smt. Seetha Rajan was awarded a special citation by the Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Trichy, Tamilnadu in 2007 for outstanding contribution in the field of Classical Music.
Current Status
Smt. Seetha Rajan is involved in several activities relating to Classical Music ranging from stage/radio/tv performances, conducting workshops for Universities and faculty and intensively training the next batch of Balabrundam disciples, the first batch having completed their training and have gone out of the Gurukulam for teaching, running music school, marriage etc.
Smt. Seetha Rajan is a
member of (Experts) Advisory Committee of the
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