Papanasam Sivan Biography 
Papanasam Sivan was a Carnatic vocalist and a singer from Tamil Nadu. He is also one of the foremost film score composers of both Kannada and Tamil cinema in 1930s and 40s. In 1962, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship the highest honour conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi. Sivan was fondly known as Tamil Thyagaraja. Many of his compositions were popularized by great singers - M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and M. S. Subbulakshmi later. His daughter Dr. Rukmani Ramani is a leading Carnatic Musician in Chennai.
Sivan was born on September 26, 1890 and his early years were spent in Travancore kingdom, Kerala. He was born at Polagam Village in the district of Thanjavur. His birth name was Ramayya. He lost his father at a younger age and his family was forced to go to Thiruvananthapuram to his uncle in 1899, where he completed his education in Malayalam. Later he joined the Maharaja Sanskrit College and obtained a degree in grammar. He lost his mother when he was 20. He became attached to religion and used to frequently visit holy place Papanasm. He actively participated in the devotional music sessions at the home of Neelakandasivan in Thiruvananthapuram too. Later he came to be known by the name, Papanasam.
He became the disciple of Noorani Mahadeva Bhagavatar, and later Konerirajapuram Vaidyanath Iyer. Despite being talented as a classical singer, he was attached to devotional music most. He encouraged other singers too, to take part in devotional music sections. He used to attend temple festivals of major temples of Kerala. A few of his popular compositions are Taaye ezhaipaal in Bhairavi, Shree maadhavaa in behaag, Naaraayana divya naamam in Mohanam, Swami Nan Undan Adimai in Naattakurinji, Abayaambikaaramani in Shankarabharam, Amba Nee irangayenil in atana, Tattvamariya taramaa in reeti gowla, Swaamy sharanam in anandabhairavi and Devi paadam paninden in Hanumatodi.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 07, 2014
