Ganakalanidhi Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar

1. Introductory Comments By: VIDWAN TIGER K. VARADACHARY – May 12, 1937
(Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar – Age 22)

It is with pleasure that I introduce Mr. V. Varadaraja Iyengar to the lovers and patrons of South Indian Music. He sings in an appreciable manner and makes the audience astonishingly moved. He also comes from a very very respectable and educated family and possesses a very good serviceable aptitude and straight forwardness. He has proved himself to be a good teaching capacity both in theory and practice.

2. Excerpts from the VINJAMURI MEMORIAL CONCERTS Inauguration Talk by Sangeetha Bhushanam Marla Suryanarayana Murthy: - August 3, 1993

…Varadaraja Iyengar, Yenga Guru avarAi koopuduvar, " yennappa, Personality Iyengar" appidi anipar. (Translation: my master, (Tiger Vardachariar) used to call him, "personality Iyengar").
…Tiger, Ivarai, ovvoru samayam "Kutti Iyengar, Kutti Tiger andru koopudradu enakku gnyapakam vandirikku. (Translation: I am reminded of Tiger some times calling him "Kutti Iyengar" or "Kutti Tiger").
…Naa jeevitham marchina mahaneeyudeena. (Translation: He was The great person who changed my life.).
…Look at his achievements, his associations, his titles, his singing in So many Samsthanam and the honours that he had been bestowed upon.
…It Was a Personality, It Was a Personality. No body can Miss it.

3. Excerpts From "ANOTHER GARLAND" – Pages: 324 – 326

…Known for his delectable Swara exposition and Tana, he had also imbibed the innovative fresh approach of his Guru, the Tiger. A firm believer in Classical traditions, he was widely respected. Had given performances all over India and abroad, at Palaces and Sabhas. In rendition of songs and Alapana in 'Todi', he was in the distinguished company of Todi Sitaramayyar, Todi Koteswara Ayyar and Todi T. N. Rajarathinam.

…When Ariyakudi could not give the concert, he himself asked Varadaraja Iyengar in 1935 at the Rasika Ranjani Sabha to take his place, with Rajamanickam Pillai on Violin and Pudokkottai Dakshinamurti Pillai on Mridangam. That was the measure of his confidence in the musicianship of Varadaraja Iyengar.

4. Rt. Honourable Sreenivasa Sastry about Vinjamuri
       (Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar – Age 25)

…Talk to this young man (Vinjamuri) for an hour, you will get University Education.