The late Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar was a maestro and disciple of Tiger Varadachariar.
He rose to great fame very quickly and was a great favourite among those who favoured the
weighty classicism in our Art form. This is the year of his tenth death anniversary. His
daughter, Ms. Sandhya Vinjamuri has kindly consented to write about him in a three part
article for www.sangeetham.com The page also carries a link to the Vinjamuri site created
by her..
- Editor
"… A leading Disciple of the late Tiger Varadachariar, he has completely
assimilated the three cardinal features of his master, namely, rare kalpana Swaras,
Apoorva Sancharas and an inimitable technique of Tana Singing. Vinjamuri has the gift of a
powerful voice, and, in addition to imbibing Tiger's matchless imagination and technique,
irrigates his music with the emotion and devotion of Musiri and Semmangudi, regulates it
with the steadiness and method of Ariyakudi and punctuates with the Tala sense of Chittoor
with all its rigour and vigour. His Sahitya was flawless and he is equally at home in
Telugu, Tamil and Kannada and Sanskrit. He rose to rare height and held the audience
captivated for nearly three hours. He took them completely by surprise and one could hear
them saying that it was the best performance of this place after Ariyakudi's concert two
years ago. …" Wrote a staff reporter of Deccan Chronicle about Vinjamuri's
performance at Hyderabad, in August of 1952, summing up the quality of Vinjamuri's Music
in a nutshell.
Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar, popularly known as "Vinjamuri" in the Music world,
hailed from a Sri Vaishnavite Swayam Aacharya Purusha family, originally from
Srivilliputtur in Tirunalveli district of Madras County. He was born on July 15, 1915 at
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. His Father, Vinjamuri Bhavana Chariar, was an advocate at Guntur,
the chairman of the Guntur Municipality and a philanthropist. He was also a lover and a
patron of Art and Music, who, at one time or the other, had, Tiger, Ariakudi, Veena
Seshanna and other Great Musicians, and, Sarojini Naidu and other political figures as
guests at his house. Vinjamuri's mother, Kanaka Valli, was a singer of some merit and was
also an active participant in the freedom struggle of India. Vinjamuri was the youngest of
13 children. All his 5 brothers were Advocates of great repute and also well versed in
Music and literature. His eldest brother V. Krishnamachari, was a Barrister from England
in 1908. His second brother V. Ranga Chari was an advocate at High Court, Madras and also
was a reputed scholar in Telugu and Sanskrit. He wrote a number of Kavyas in those
languages. His third brother V. Anantha Chari, a Vainika, was an advocate too but spent
most of his life in the freedom struggle. He lived with Gandhiji at Wardha Ashram, and,
played Bhagavat Geetha and Vedas on the Veena for Gandhiji. He was a disciple of Veena
Seshanna who presented him with his own Veena. The fourth brother V. Sreenivasa Chari, was
a Flutist in addition to being an Advocate himself. He established Thyagabrahma Gana Sabha
at Guntur and introduced a number of artists from south to Andhra Pradesh. The youngest of
the older brothers, V. Parthasarathi Iyengar (96 - now lives in Washington DC), is also a
Lawyer and a Violin player. All his sisters were educated in Music, in Sanskrit and other
languages, along with formal education.
Vinjamuri, as a boy of three would crawl to the music teacher Piratla Sankara Sastri
whenever he taught music to the girls of the family. Piratla Sankara Sastri was the court
musician of Muthyala Samsthanam and he later moved to Guntur in order to tutor the
daughter-in-law of the Rani of Chintalapalli, who lived there at that time. Sankara
Sastri, a disciple of Tiruvattiyur Thyagaier, himself was a great Laksha, Lakshna Sastra
Kovida, and also was a great poet and a composer. He served the Madras Music Academy for
some years as an expert committee member and contributed enormously to the cause of
Karnatic Music.
Unlike in the present times where, a person with a little more talent and a little more
intelligence is called a prodigy and a genius, Sankara Sastri encouraged the young
Vinjamuri just adequately, to continue listening to the music. But, he silently noted and
admired the child's talent in differentiating the right from the wrong in Music, even at
that young age. When he felt that the boy was ready, he started the formal musical
education with the Ata Tala Varnam in the Ragam Reetigowla. After that, he taught him Ata
Tala Varnams in Kalyani, Bhairavi, Kambhoji, and, started teaching Krits by starting with
the Thyagaraja Kriti "Sambho Mahadeva" in the raga Kamavardhani.
Vinjamuri continued his Music lessons at home with great interest and enthusiasm, and was
learning the Pancha Kavyas in Sanskrit from his schoolteacher, a Sanskrit scholar and a
poet, Pallem Poornapragnya Sharma. That particular year, for the school day celebrations,
Sharma was screening students for singing the prayer song. When Vinjamuri sang, his raga
Gnyana and pronunciation astounded the teacher. He not only selected Vinjamuri for singing
the prayer but also wrote the first Sloka of the "Ramayana Ashta Sloki" -
Balakanda in Haswa Dhati, Which starts with "Rakshoganena Hridayakshobha Methya
Nija" and ends with "Ikshvaku Vamsa Thilaka", to be sung as the prayer. He
later completed the other seven Slokas.
Vinjamuri gave his first performance at the age of 7 in the presence of the famous Veena
Seshanna, at Guntur. He finished high school and went on to study B.A, but continued his
musical training under his Guru, Shankara Sastri.
Once, the teen aged Vinjamuri traveled to Muthyala Samsthanam with his Guru who was to
give a performance there. But, unfortunately, the Guru fell ill and could not perform and
he asked Maharaja to let the young Vinjamuri perform, instead. The Maharaja was skeptical
about the young man's ability to replace the Palace Musician, but could not object due to
his respect for Sankara Sastri. During the Kutcheri, Vinjamuri sang Thyagaraja kriti
"Neechittamu Nirmalamu" in the raga Dhanyasi, with raaga Aalaapanam and Neraval
at the charanam. His expression of true emotion and devotion while singing "Guruve
Uttama Gathi, Aa Guruvu Neevanukonti" not only touched the hearts of the Maharaja and
the audience, but moved his Guru so much that he overcame with emotion. While tears of joy
rolled over his cheeks, he expressed his happiness and blessings for his Sishya by
composing poems extempore, to the meaning, "is this Shankara (am I) your Guru or the
Adi Shankara himself is your Guru?" Soon after, Vinjamuri again performed at Muthyala
Maharaja's daughter's wedding, with Parur Sundaram Iyer on the Violin, Madras Venu Nayakar
on the Mridangam and Bilvadri Iyer on the Ghatam. After a four-hour concert, the Maharajah
felicitated him with Rs. 1116 and other court honours. On that occasion, Maharaja of
Challapalli, who was present at that wedding, invited Vinjamuri to perform at the wedding
of his brother, which took place the month after.
Vinjamuri Varaha Narasimha Chariar, former expert committee member of the Madras Music
Academy, an authority in Musicology, founder secretary of Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, Cocanada,
once commented about Vinjamuri's singing "Kadalevadu Kade, Ramudu", a Saint
Thyagaraja Kriti in the raga Narayana Gowla. The very thought of talking about it made his
eyes fill with tears, his throat was choked with emotion, as he said that one could feel
the presence of Parabrahmam as they listened to that divine Music, and, the entire Hindu
Philosophy was reflected in that voice in those few minutes of his singing. Vinjamuri's
Music stirred up and brought-out the finest of human emotions.
It was a well know fact that, whether Vinjamuri sang Shyama Sastri's Kriti
"Brovavamma" in the raga Manji or "Neelaayathakshi" in the raga
Pharaz, or Muthiah Bhagavatar's "Kalaratri Swaroopini" in the raga Urmika, or
Deekshitar's "Sri Raja Gopala" in the raga Saveri, he would invariably drive the
audience, including children, to tears, even if they did not follow the lyrics. Someone
once commented "Ragathilum Bhavamundu, Swarathilum Bhavamundu, Keertanathilum
Bhavamundu, Appidi Bhavathodan Padum Iyengarval.. " about Ariyakudi's singing. That
was definitely true with Vinjamuri's singing too.
After finishing B.A, Vinjmauri traveled to Madras and joined "Music Vidwan"
Diploma course offered at Madras University under the guidance of the musical giant, Tiger
Varadachariar, contrary to his Father's wish that he join Law college. Ever since he
became Favourite Sishya to Tiger and Ekalavya Sishya to Ariyakudi.
Tiger had matchless imagination and high innovative powers. He was known for not repeating
the Sangathis taught on one day even the very next day. The students had the pressure of
learning the Sangathis the very same day. Tiger was against writing down the Swaras too.
Since Vinjamuri was a "Eka Santhagrahi" (one who could remember by just
listening once), Tiger would ask Vinjamuri to repeat his lessons until all the students
grasped them.
Vinjamuri was married in the year 1935, to 12 year old Vimala Devi, who joined him at
Madras in 1937. Tiger and his wife (who did not have children of their own) treated
Vinjamuri as their own son. While Tiger addressed Vinjamuri as "Personality
Iyengar", "Handsome Iyengar", "Zamindar Pullai" and "Kutti
Tiger", they addressed and also introduced Vimala Devi as their "Mattu
Ponnu" to every one.
Vinjamuri participated in 1935 Madras Music Academy competitions and won the gold medal.
In the process of finalizing the gold medallist, the judges asked Vinjamuri to tune a new
Tambura within a very short time, which he successfully did with extraordinary precision.
Sir CV Raman's brother, CS Iyer, ICS, was in the audience at that time. He was so thrilled
by the young Vinjamuri's extraordinary performance and the talent; he announced and
presented him with a second gold medal.
Even at the age of 20, Vinjamuri became a well sought-after Musician. In 1935, Ariyakudi
was to give a performance at Rasika Ranjani Sabha but just before the concert, he
developed a severe cold. He asked Vinjamuri to take his place and perform. Such was
Ariyakudi's confidence in Vinjamuri even at that young age! Young Vinjamuri performed with
Kumbakkonam Rajamanikyam Pillai on the Violin and Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai on the
Mridangam. At the end of the concert, Ariyakudi and the accompanying stalwarts were full
of praise for Vinjamuri's brilliant performance. Later in 1964, Ariyakudi commented to
Chkravarthi IAS, who was posted at Guntur at that time, that "you must feel
privileged to serve at Guntur as THAT place has produced Vinjamuri".
When Vinjamuri was about 22, Sringeri Peetam Swamy Shankaraacharya conferred on him, his
very first title, the title of "Ganavidhya Visharada", and honoured him with a
Sloka Mala.
Vinjamuri continued his training under Tiger even after obtaining the Music Diploma with
First in First Class. In order to quench his thirst of Musical knowledge, Vinjamuri
attended concerts of all famous musicians; he visited Veena Dhanammal's house regularly
and attended her Friday concert sessions. Veena Dhanamma was very fond of young, handsome,
talented and well-mannered Vinjamuri. As Vinjamuri entered her house, she would invariably
ask some one to fetch him a glass of milk saying, "Vinjamuri is here, get him a big
silver tumbler full of milk" (Telugu: "Vinjamuri Vacchinaru; Pedda Velli Tumbler
ninda Palu Thendimee!"). Such was her motherly affection for Vinjamuri.
Vinjamuri attended every possible Kutcheri of Ariyakudi to learn the art and technique of
platform singing. In fact, Vinjamuri was the only one whose singing reminded the
listeners, the singing of Ariyakudi. Both being from the Sishya Paramapara of Sadguru
Thyagaraja, their Banis were similar too. Both were famous as singers of weighty
classicism. Thus, Vinjamuri was often referred to as "Kutti Ramanuja Iyengar"
and later, by virtue of his living in Hyderabad for some time, and, giving hundreds of
performances in Andhra, he was also called "Andhra Ariyakudi" by the press and
the public.
In thirties, when Palladam Sanjeevarao, the famous Flutist, was the president of the
Thyagaraja Aaraadhana Utsavam, Vinjamuri attended the function. One afternoon, Vinjamuri
started singing Bhairavi ragam sitting in one corner of the room. No one else was in the
room. As he was immersed in his singing, Palladam came in and stood there mesmerized by
his singing. When Vinjamuri stopped, Palladam asked him who he was and where he learned to
sing Bhairavi so well. (Tamil: "Romba arumayaga Bhairavi padreppa, nee! Enga
kattunde? Yaaru unnoda Guru?") Vinjamuri replied that he was a student of Tiger. That
evening, Palladam made room for Vinjamuri's Kutcheri in the festival. That was the
beginning of his performances and participation in the Thyagaraja Aaraadhana at
Thiruvaiyaru.
Vinjamuri, around 1938, was the Asthana Vidwan of Travancore Samsthanam. He performed at
the Kowdiar palace in the presence of the Maharaja of Travancore, the late Sri Chitra
Tirunal and her highness Maharani Sethuparvathi Bai. His superb rendering of Thodi at that
performance earned him the title, "Thodi Varadaraja Iyengar".
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