Narayan Iyengar Biography 
K. S. Narayan Iyengar was a musician and master of chitravina, a south Indian music instrument. He has given significant contributions in the development of this music instrument, also known as gotuvadyam. He also had skills in painting and photography. Both his son - Chitravina Narasimhan and grandson - Chitravina N. Ravikiran (a child prodigy) have given outstanding contributions to the field of Indian music.
Narayana Iyengar was born on 25 January 1903, near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. He was born into a family with music lineage. His father Srinivasa Iyengar was an amateur violinist while his mother Srivaramangai was a music lover. His father was an engineer by profession. Narayana Iyengar was initiated to the formal learning of music at the age of 14 under the guru Kodaganallur Subbaiyya Bhagavatar. He also learnt painting and photography from Raja Ravi Varma High School of Arts. Yet it was music which fascinated him most and he dedicated his full life for it. He was deeply attracted by g Chitravina, which was re-introduced to Carnatic music by Tiruvidaimarudur Sakha Rama Rao.
Later he impressed Sakha Rama Rao by his talents who agreed to teach him chitraveena. A few years later, he taught Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer who brought glory to this field. Iyengar practised up to 18–20 hours a day, and mastered this instrument in a short period which earned him the name - Gotuvadyam Narayana Iyengar. He started giving performances in his 20s and very soon he performed across the country. He was invited to be a Royal Artiste in Trivandrum and later to Mysore to perform, during his 20s. He was a top artist of AIR and has also performed in the countries - Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 04, 2016
