Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer Biography 
Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer was a Carnatic vocalist and musicologist who hailed from Mudikondan, a village of Tamil Nadu. He was an expert in rendering Ragam Thanam Pallavi. A recipient of numerous awards including - Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Sangeetha Kalasikhamani by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai, he has given outstanding contributions to Carnatic music in the 20th century. He was a disciple of Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer. He was verse in Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit and English languages apart from his knowledge in Astrology and Ayurveda.
He was born in Mudicondan village of Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu and later his native place ‘Mudicondan’ got permanently added to his name. He was born in 1897 to Chakrapani lyer and Kamakshi into a family associated with music. Both his maternal grandfather Srivanchiyam Swaminatha lyer and uncle Bommalattam Mani Iyer were also musicians. After school education he was sent to Chennai by his father to learn English. But following his father’s death, he returned back and decided to learn Carnatic music and pursue a career as a vocalist. Famous Carnatic singer Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer was one of his earliest gurus. He later learnt different aspects of music from Kandaswami Pillai, Simizhi Sundaram Iyer etc.
His Arangettam happened in Cuddalore at the age of 17 and his first public concert took place in Chennai in 1919. He was a great exponent of Ragam Thanam Pallavi and had the unique to debate and win in this subject without referring books. He lived in Mudicondan, his native village where he taught students. He used to give lectures and demonstrations at Music Academy annually. He taught at Teachers' College of Music and retired in 1972.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 28, 2016
