K. V. Narayanaswamy Biography 
K. V. Narayanaswamy, also called KVN was a great Carnatic vocalist from Palakkad Kerala who lived in the 20th century. He was named "Gentle Perfect Knight" of Carnatic music by the music and art critic V. K. Narayana Menon. A great teacher also, he has numerous disciples of whom a few successful names include - B. Raman and Ramanujan. Palghat Mani Iyer's cousin Annapoorni was his first wife. He received both Padma Shri and Central Sangeet Natak Academi Award in the year 1976. Madras Music Academy's Sangita Kalanidhi Award (1986) and The Fine Arts Society's Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award (1989) are other major honours received by him.
He was born into a renowned Palakkad Iyer family known for its cultural and musical traditions. He was born in 1923 to Kollengode Viswanathayyar and Muthulakshmi Ammal. During his younger days he moved to Coimbatore where he got associated with theater. He was also seen in a bit role in the film, Kannappa Nayanar. He learnt Mridangam from Palghat Mani Iyer and later married his cousin, Annapoorni. The couple had four children. Following the death of Annapoorni, he remarried a musician Padma three years later in 1965. Their daughter Anuradha is a trained vocalist and a TV actor.
He was an ardent disciple of Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar till his death in 1967. In 1954 he had to substitute his guru Iyengar for one of his concerts which proved to be his major breakthrough. In 1964 he participated in the East-West Encounter concerts in New Delhi. This concert too was a major breakthrough of his career. He also did many concerts abroad. Joined the Music College in Madras as a lecturer in 1962, he worked as a music teacher for 20 years and retired as professor.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 12, 2016
