Carnatic musician S.R. Janakiraman passes away at 98
Renowned Carnatic musician and musicologist S.R. Janakiraman has passed away at the age of 98. He was a distinguished teacher and scholar known for his contributions to South Indian classical music and his work at the Music Academy.
Why it matters
Janakiraman was a significant figure in the preservation and academic study of traditional Carnatic music, serving as a bridge between historical gurukula traditions and modern musicology.
Noted Carnatic musician, teacher, and musicologist S.R. Janakiraman, the last student of the late Tiger Varadachariar, died in Chennai on Friday. He was 98.
S.R.J., as he was known in music circles, was renowned for his erudite lectures and demonstrations, which once dominated the December music festival season in Chennai.
Born in Lalgudi, Janakiraman was afflicted with smallpox and lost the power of sight in one eye. He could not attend school until he was 11. After learning from Thanneerpalli Krishnamoorthy Iyer and Shaptharishi Iyer, he joined Kalakshetra in Chennai to study the Sangita Siromani course.
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