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D. K. Pattammal
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Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal
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Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal (Tamil:
J_eu Luo) (28 March 1919 16 July
2009)
[1]
was a prominent Carnatic musician and a playback
singer for film songs in many Indian languages. She along with
her contemporaries M. S. Subbulakshmi and M. L.
Vasanthakumari were (and still are) popularly referred to as the
Female trinity of Carnatic Music. This trio initiated the entry of
women into mainstream Carnatic Music. She has been
appreciated all over the world by Carnatic music lovers.
[2][3]
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DK Pattammal (right) in concert with her brother,
DK Jayaraman; circa early 1940s.
Background information
Born 28 March 1919
Origin Kancheepuram, Madras
Presidency, British India
Died July 16, 2009 (aged 90)
Chennai, India
Genres Carnatic music and playback
singing
Occupations singer
Years active 19292009
Labels HMV, EMI, RPG, AVM Audio,
Inreco, Charsur Digital Workshop
etc.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life and background
2 Singing career
2.1 Films
2.2 Tours
2.3 Disciples
3 Death
4 Awards and titles
5 Notes
6 References
7 External links
Early life and background [ edit source ]
Pattammal was born in an orthodox Brahmin family in
Kancheepuram of Tamil Nadu, India.
[4]
She was named as
Alamelu, but fondly called "Patta" as a child prodigy.
[5][6]
Her
father, Damal Krishnaswamy Dikshithar, who was deeply interested in music, inspired her to learn Carnatic
music.
[7]
Her mother, Kanthimathi (Rajammal), although a talented singer herself, was not permitted to sing
even for friends or relatives in line with strict orthodox tradition.
[7]
Despite her orthodox background,
Pattammal sang and showed considerable music talent at an early age.
[4]
She received no formal gurukula training.
[8]
As a child, Pattammal sat through the concerts, and on
returning home, notated the kritis she heard,
[9]
and key phrases of ragas.
[8]
Her brothers D. K.
Ranganathan, D. K. Nagarajan, and D. K. Jayaraman - later her vocal accompanists, helped her in this
task.
[8]
She also sang simple devotional hymns and songs her father taught her.
[4][5]
Later, she received
tuition from an unnamed Telugu-speaking musician, whom she called "Telugu vadyar" or "Telugu
teacher".
[4][5]
He'd also offered to teach her Telugu and Sanskrit.
[10]
Singing career [ edit source ]
Languages
Deutsch

Nederlands
Norsk nynorsk

u_
Edit links
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At age 8, Pattammal won first prize for singing Thyagaraja's "Raksha Bettare" in Bhairavi, at a competition
conducted by C Subramanya Pillai (popularly known as Naina Pillai).
[6]
Naina Pillai, whom Patta admired
deeply, used to host Thyagaraja festivals in Kancheepuram every year,
[6]
and was a veteran in the art of
singing Ragam Thanam Pallavi.
[5]
In 1929, at age 10, Pattamal gave her first radio performance for Madras Corporation Radio (now known as
AIR), and 3 years later, she gave her first public concert at Madras Rasika Ranjani Sabha in 1932.
[6]
One
year later, she moved to Chennai to become a regular performer in concerts and gave her first performance
at the Mahila Samajam (the Egmore Ladies Club), and won acclaim.
[4]
In 1939, Pattammal married R.
Iswaran.
[4]
She quickly rose to stardom, and her musical career spanned more than 65 years.
D. K. Pattammal's knowledge was encyclopedic;
[11]
she was considered as an authority on Muthuswami
Dikshitar's compositions,
[7]
and is also known for her renditions of these.
[1]
She learnt authentic versions of
these compositions from Ambi Dikshithar, a descendant of Muthuswami Dikshithar, as well as Justice T. L.
Venkatrama Iyer, an authority on Dikshithar's compositions.
[1]
She popularised several Dikshithar's
compositions in her concerts, and also sang Tiruppugazhs and Tevarams that she learnt from Appadurai
Achari.
[12]
Pattammal also learnt many compositions of Papanasam Sivan, directly from the composer
himself.
[12]
She went onto popularise these compositions of Papanasam Sivan, as well as those of
Subramania Bharathiyar,
[7]
both in film and Carnatic music.
Pattammal started a few revolutionary trends in Carnatic music.
[4]
She was the first Brahmin woman to have
performed this genre of music publicly. Brahmins ranked as the highest in the caste hierarchy prevalent in
India in the early 20th century, and society considered it taboo for a Brahmin woman to perform on stage.
Pattammal was also the first woman to have performed Ragam Thanam Pallavi in concerts.
[5][13]
Ragam
Thanam Pallavi, which was classed as a male stronghold, is the most difficult concert item in Carnatic
music, as it calls for great skill and a high degree of concentration to handle the rhythmic complexities
involved.
[4]
Pattammal went further to perform very complex Pallavis in intricate talas (rhythmic cycles);
impressing and earning the respect of her male peers, connoisseurs and fellow-musicians.
[4]
Her singing of
pallavis was technically perfect, and aesthetically pleasing.
[11]
For this reason, she became dubbed Pallavi
Pattammal.
[6]
She learnt a few pallavis and compositions from Naina Pillai, and several from Vidyala
Narasimhalu Naidu, the nephew of Tirupati Narayanaswami Naidu, a prominent composer of javalis.
[4][11]
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Today, many female Carnatic musicians perform Ragam Thanam Pallavi as the main item in their concerts.
Films [ edit source ]
Pattammal was one of the earliest Carnatic musicians to sing in films, and was introduced in this medium
by Papanasam Sivan.
[7]
Although she received many offers to sing for films, she only accepted those that
involved devotional or patriotic songs, and declined offers to sing romantic songs. The first film Pattammal
sang in was Thyagabhoomi (1939).
[14]
A scene, towards the end of the film, consisted of a group of freedom
fighters marching in a procession, carrying the Indian National Congress party flag, with "Desa Sevai Seyya
Vareer" being sung by Pattammal in the background.
[15]
The song, which was played by Papanasam Sivan
and written by Kalki R. Krishnamurthy, highlighted the Freedom Movement and invited people to join.
[15]
The fame that the film and the song generated led to both being banned by the British government.
[15]
Pattammal popularised several patriotic compositions of Subramania Bharathiyar.
[7]
In Nam Iruvar (1947),
her renditions of "Vettri Ettu Dhikkum", and "Aaduvome Pallu Paduvome", a utopian creation celebrating a
free India, went onto be big hits.
[7][15]
In Rama Rajyam (1948), Pattammal popularised Subramania
Bharathi's "Thoondir Puzhvinapol", while she popularised his composition, "Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai", in
Vedala Ulagam (1948). Pattammal's singing, along with the dancing of Baby Kamala in the film, made the
latter of these especially memorable. In AVMs Vazhkai (1949), where Vyjayanthimala was introduced in
film, Pattammal also sang his "Bharatha samudhaayam vaazhgave". Pattammal had the rare honour of
performing at the foundation-laying ceremony of the Bharati Memorial at Ettayapuram.
[1]
Pattammal also sang in other films including Mahatma Urangaar (1947), Pizhaikkum Vazhi (1948), Lavanya
(1951). The last song Pattammal sang in film was at the age of 80 for the Tamil film, Hey Ram (2000).
[9]
Ilaiyaraaja and Kamal Haasan carted recording equipment to her home and had her sing "Vaishnav Janato",
a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, for the film.
[9]
Year Film Song Music Lyrics
1939 Thyagabhoomi Desa Sevai Seyya Vareer Papanasam Sivan
Kalki R.
Krishnamurthy
1947 Nam Iruvar Vettri Ettu Dhikkum R. Sudharsanam
Mahakavi
Subramaniya
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Bharathiyar
1947 Nam Iruvar Aaduvome Pallu Paduvome R. Sudharsanam
Mahakavi
Subramaniya
Bharathiyar
1947
Mahathma
Utthangaar
Kaana Aaval Kondengumen Iru
Vizhigal
S. V. Venkatraman & T.
R. Ramanathan
Papanasam Sivan
1947
Mahathma
Utthangaar
Kunchitha Paadham Ninainthu
Urugum
S. V. Venkatraman & T.
R. Ramanathan
Papanasam
Rajagopala Iyer
1948 Rama Rajyam Ramayanam R. Sudharsanam
1948 Rama Rajyam Thoondir Puzhuvinaipol R. Sudharsanam
Mahakavi
Subramaniya
Bharathiyar
1948
Vedala
Ulagam
Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai R. Sudharsanam
Mahakavi
Subramaniya
Bharathiyar
1948
Pizhaikkum
Vazhi
Engal Naattukku Endha Naadu
Eeedu Perinba Gnana Veedu
G. Aswathamma
Madurai G. Sundara
Vaathiyar
1948
Pizhaikkum
Vazhi
Kottai Kattathedaa G. Aswathamma
T. K. Sundara
Vaathiyar
1948
Pizhaikkum
Vazhi
Mudalai Vaayil G. Aswathamma
T. K. Sundara
Vaathiyar
1949 Vazhkai Bharatha Samudhaayam Vaazhgave R. Sudharsanam
Mahakavi
Subramaniya
Bharathiyar
1951 Lavanya Pazham Bhaaratha Nannaadu S. V. Venkatraman Papanasam Sivan
1951 Lavanya Thanga Oru Nizhal Illaiye S. V. Venkatraman Papanasam Sivan
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2000 Hey Ram Vaishnav Janato Ilaiyaraja
Pattammal was one of the artists in Jana Gana Mana video album compossed by A. R. Rahman which was
released on January 26, 2000 to mark the 50th year of the Indian Republic. Pattammal who was 80, is the
most senior among of the rest of the other vocal artists in this video album.
Tours [ edit source ]
Pattammal has performed in all major states, sabhas and venues throughout India, as well as numerous
destinations around the world, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sri
Lanka and other countries.
[16]
Disciples [ edit source ]
Pattammal's style of singing attracted many students, foremost among them her younger brother D. K.
Jayaraman, who sang with her in several concerts, and who himself received the Sangeetha Kalanidhi in
1990. A few of her other popular students include her daughter-in-law Lalitha Sivakumar,
[17]
Geetha
Rajashekar,
[18]
and her granddaughter Nithyasree Mahadevan.
[19]
Death [ edit source ]
Pattammal died of natural causes in Chennai on July 16, 2009 at 1:30 pm. She is survived by I. Sivakumar
and I. Lakshmankumar,
[1]
as well as her grandchildren Rajguru, Gayathri, Nithyasree, and Charan. Her
Husband, R. Iswaran died on 2 April 2010, aged 95.
Awards and titles [ edit source ]
D. K. Pattammal has received several awards and titles throughout her career. Most notably these include:
Gana Saraswathi (a title bestowed on her by the musician Tiger Varadachariar)
[20]
"Sangeetha Sagara Ratna" (title)
[11][20]
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1961)
[20]
Sangeetha Kalanidhi (1970; highest accolade in Carnatic music)
[20]
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Padma Bhushan (1971; from the Government of India)
[20]
Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi (elected in 1992)
[20]
Padma Vibhushan (1998; India's second-highest civilian honor)
[20]
"Sangeeta Saraswathi" (2006; award bestowed by Guruji Viswanath, founder of Manava Seva Kendra)
[21]
Notes [ edit source ]
1. ^
a

b

c

d

e
The Hindu: Front page: Pattammal passes away
2. ^ Profile - Sangita Kalanidhi D.K.Pattammal
3. ^ The Hindu : Chords and Notes
4. ^
a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

i

j
Music with feeling
5. ^
a

b

c

d

e
A lifetime for Carnatic music
6. ^
a

b

c

d

e
'Enough if I get 100 discerning listeners'
7. ^
a

b

c

d

e

f

g
Pattammal passes away
8. ^
a

b

c
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed: Elegance, not flamboyance, was her forte
9. ^
a

b

c
Matriarch of music
10. ^ The Hindu : Friday Review Bangalore / Tribute : The voice that touched the skies
11. ^
a

b

c

d
The Hindu : Friday Review Chennai / Tribute : Perfect and aesthetic
12. ^
a

b
The Hindu: Dignity personified
13. ^ A lifetime for Carnatic music
14. ^ A progressive film-maker
15. ^
a

b

c

d
The Hindu : Friday Review Chennai / Tribute : Memorable voice, evergreen songs
16. ^ Sleeman (2002), p438
17. ^ The Hindu : Friday Review Chennai / Columns : Life time bond with music
18. ^ The Hindu : Pattammal touch evokes nostalgia
19. ^ The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Interview : Musical legacy
20. ^
a

b

c

d

e

f

g
D. K. Pattammal
21. ^ The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 'A momentous occasion for the music fraternity'
References [ edit source ]
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Sleeman, Elizabeth (2002). The International Who's Who of Women 2002. London: Routledge.
External links [ edit source ]
Official website
Article in Frontline, 1998
Interview in Frontline, 1999
Authority control VIAF: 224764396
Categories: 1919 births 2009 deaths Carnatic singers Disease-related deaths in India
Recipients of the Padma Bhushan Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan Performers of Hindu music
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship Sangeetha Kalanidhi recipients