N. Rajam Biography 
N. Rajam is a lady violinist who performs in Hindustani classical music. She is fondly known by the name, ‘Singing violin’. She has been the Professor of Music at Banaras Hindu University for nearly 40 years and later became the chair of the department and the Dean of the college. In 2012, she was awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. She is the daughter of Vidwan A. Narayana Iyer, a well known Carnatic vocalist from Kerala. Her brother, T. N. Krishnan, is also a famous violist and recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. Kala Ramnath is her niece. Rajam has also received the prestigious titles of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan from the Government of India. Puttaraja Sanmaana in 2004 and Pune Pandit Award in 2010 by Art & Music Foundation are other honours received by her. She has travelled throughout India and has done concerts in many foreign countries including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Netherlands and Canada.
N. Rajam was born in Ernakulam, Kerala in 1938. Her initial training of Carnatic music was given by her father. She also received vocal training from famous Musiri Subramania Iyer and Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. She started playing violin at the age of 3 and became a professional musician at the age of 9. She developed the ‘Gayaki Ang’ with the guidance of her father.She was inspired by the great M.S. Subbulakshmi in her childhood. She got opportunity to assist this great singer when she was only 8. As an artist she has performed in many foreign countries including Europe and USA.
She is a wonderful teacher also. Satya Prakash Mohanty, V. Balaji and Swarna Khuntia were her students at Banaras Hindu University. On her 75th birthday, one of her disciples gifted her rare musical instrument named after her. It was a mix of Violin, Viola, Chello, Sarangi, Sarod, Santoor, dilruba and flute, gifted by her student Balaji.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 07, 2014
