Mysore Nagamani Srinath, with his multifaceted persona of Carnatic music tradition, has been attributed with the role of a Musician, Teacher, Composer, Author as well as a Director. Her `mellifluous voice, vocal prowess, unique combination of orthodoxy and uninhibited manodharma, didactic knowledge and astute subtle rendering` all amalgamated together and resulted into creation of a maestro like her.
Early Life of Mysore Nagamani Srinath
Mysore Nagamani Srinath apart from being a widely acclaimed vocalist has also established her impression in the field of academics. She holds degrees in Kannada, History and Music from University of Mysore; Master of Arts in Music from Mysore University; Vidwat (Music), under Government of Karnataka and Post- Graduate Diploma in Music, under Government of Tamil Nadu. Today she is serving as the Professor and Head, Department of music, Maharani`s Arts College, Bangalore University.
Life in Music for Mysore Nagamani Srinath
Mysore Nagamani Srinath has bagged the honour of being trained under the "Musician of Musicians", Ramnad Krishnan in Madras. She has received the training under the Gurukula system. Ramnad Krishnan has been considered as `one of the most revered exponents of Carnatic music`. After receiving a rigorous training, Mysore Nagamani Srinath has imbibed the unique style of Ramnad Krishnan. In addition to that she has also learnt the nuances and intricacies from the legends like TR Mahalingam, Palghat Mani Iyer, Brinda, Mukta, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Shammangudi Srinivas Iyer, who used to visit Ramnad Krishnan`s place at regular intervals. As she was pursuing higher studies at the Madras Carnatic Music College, she came in contact with the noteworthy persona of music KV Narayana Swamy, Brinda, Mukta and TM Tyagarajan. Arkere Narayan Rao, Vishweshvaran, Ramaratnam and Gowri Kuppaswamy have also instilled their repertoire into her. According to her, the tutelage that she has received by the time is `a Combination of great masters`.
Afterwards Mysore Nagamani Srinath started performing on the highly esteemed stages and mesmerized her audiences with her `harmonious voice, discriminating bias for shruti, illuminating manodharma commingled with orthodoxy, vividly weighty "tala", artistry to communicate rasa in all aspects of cutcheri art covering raga alapana, song rendition, neraval and swara singing and the unusual combination of extraordinary birka felicity with the silken Carnatic music asaivu and gamaka graces`. She has performed in all most all the high status occasions. Radio Sangeeta Sammellanas; Spirit of unity concerts for National Integration; Madras Music academy; SAARC cultural festival; Dasara Durbar Hall Concerts; South central zone National festival are few to note. Mysore Nagamani Srinath has also participated with Hindustani vocalists and instrumentalists at the Jugal Bandi performances. These programme received well appreciation through out.
In order to execute her gayaki, she has also journeyed the USA and Canada and gave over 30 performances during each visit. At the same time she has also conducted many lecture demonstrations also. Each of her performances received a rave review from the audiences out there. "Nagamani is an extremely creative musician. I have been to a couple of her concerts at Music academy and she sings great ragam tanam pallavi. I remember to a 4 kalai chowka pallavi starting after 15 aksharas- she was simply superb" is one amongst vast reviews.
Awards and Achievements for Mysore Nagamani Srinath
Mysore Nagamani Srinath started receiving the acknowledgement of her talent from the tender age of 7 years. At that very young age she fetched the first prize from a national level competitions held at Mysore. Afterwards she has been conferred many accolades like, GOLD MEDALIST and SECOND RANK holder Bachelors of Arts, Mysore University, in the year 1970; LAKSHAMMA MEMORIAL GOLD MEDAL FOR BEST OUTGOING STUDENT, Maharani`s College, Mysore, in the year 1970; GOLD MEDALIST and FIRST RANK in Vidwat Exam (Music), conducted by Government of Karnataka in the year 1971; NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP from The department of culture, Government of India, during the years 1971-73; GOLD MEDALIST and FIRST RANK - Sangeetha Vidwan Title course in Music, Government of Tamil Nadu. 1972-73; GOLD MEDALIST and FIRST RANK in the Master of Arts (Music), Mysore University in the year 1976.
Later on Mysore Nagamani Srinath won "RAJYOTSAVA PRASHASTI" - considered as the highest state award by the Government of Karnataka in the year 1998; "ADARSHA SHIKSHAKA" - the highest state award for teachers of collegiate education, by the Government Of Karnataka in the year 2003; "GANASARASWATI" conferred by his Excellency the Vice- President of India B.D. Jatti; "KARNATAKA KALASHREE" - Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy, Government of Karnataka, for the year 1997-98; "GANAKALASHREE" - conferred by Karnataka Ganakala Parishad, in the year 1990; Rare distinction of being awarded "The Best musician" award for three consecutive years in MADRAS MUSIC ACADEMY, for the year 1978-80; "LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD" resented by Mrs Nagaratnamma, honourable minister for state, Karnataka; "GANAVISHARADE" conferred by Udipi Pejawar Mutt, in the year 1983; "ISHAIKADAL"- "Ocean of music" conferred by Tamil Ishai Sangam Karaikudi, in the year 2003; "ARYABHATA AWARD" for excellence in Music, Bangalore, in the year 2001; "Sur Sangam" - MICO Fine Arts award, Bangalore, in the year 1996; "Gayana Maduryagiri" Girinagar Sabha, Bangalore, in the year 2002; Citation Of Honor conferred by The Indian community, Washington State, USA in the year 1999; Citation Of Honor by "Kaveri Samskritika Samsthe" of Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, USA, in the year 2000.
Mysore Nagamani Srinath as a devoted teacher never compromises with the traditional form of art. Her students through her `painstakingly meticulous approach` proceeded towards their `lakshya and lakshana`. Her students under her guidance get the opportunity to prove themselves on the stage. Many of them like their teacher have been acknowledged as the "A" grade artistes of national repute. To bestow knowledge to aspiring musicians, she has conducted many numerous lecture demonstrations and music workshops. Mysore Nagamani Srinath`s role a director has contributed many theme-based features that have been considered as exquisite blend of " Sangeeta, Nrutya and Nataka". Some compositions composed by her are, "Haridasa Spandana" and "Haridasa Deepti" based on Haridasa compositions, "Bhakti Kampana" on Vachana Sahitya, Tyagaraja Vaibhava on Tyagaraja compositions, "Sanathana Saarathi" a multi-linguistic feature on Lord Krishna, "Sahyadri Inda Chamundiya Varage" on the complete works of rashtrakavi Kuvempu, "Kavi Kavya Deepti" a magnum opus of a ten centuries of Kannada literature, "Karnataka Vaibhava" on the heritage of Karnataka state.
Mysore Nagamani Srinath has also given direction in many music dramas and also enriched the dance drama with her acting as well. To name a few, epics like" Raja Harischandra", "Kunti- Karna", "Ramayan" and also in a social theme dramas. She has also produced and directed a 13 episode popular tele-serial "Mysore composers" broadcasted on Doordarshan`s national network. Apart from these she has authored insightful articles and treatises on music themes as well as published books on Shamashastri, Veena Kuppaiyer and Thiruvatiyur Tyagaiyer. As a composer, Mysore Nagamani Srinath has composed varnas, tillanas and kritis in rare and difficult ragas.
She has bagged the honour of being releasing 200 compositions in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit to her credit.
Post Held by Mysore Nagamani Srinath
Today she is holding the post of Organizing member, Dasara Cultural committee, Government of Karnataka; Governing body member, South Central Cultural Centre; Founder, Sunada Cultural Centre, Mysore; Committee member, Sangeeta Nrutya Academy, Government of Karnataka; Jury- Central audition board- All India Radio; Expert committee member, Ganakala Parishad; Member of Board of studies, Bangalore, Mysore and Kerala Universities. Around 25 discs and cassettes to her credit she has recorded on Haridasa kirtanas, slokas, vachanas, Carnatic classical music, Jugal bandhis and Sangeeta roopakas.