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 Just as Thanjavur gave
Thirumarugal Natesa Pillai, Mannargudi Chinna Pakkirri, Thiruvavadudurai
Rajarathinam and Subramaniya Pillai for Carnatic music, Madurai gave
Pushpavanam Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer and Madurai Krishnan. Another gifted
vidwan who has brought credit to Madurai is Madurai T N Seshagopalan (TNS).
Seshagopalan, inspired by
his mother's music, started his musical career in 1955. He is a disciple
of Ramanathapuram C S Sankarasivan.
TNS holds a degree in
science from Madras University and a degree in music from Madurai
University where he also served as professor of music.
Several titles have been
conferred on him: 'Tiruppukazh Mani' conferred by Justice Krishnaswami
Iyer of Travancore in 1964, 'Gaana Boopathi', bestowed by the Tamil Sangam
of Olavakod in 1967, 'Kalai Maamani', bestowed by the Government of Tamil
Nadu in 1985, 'Isai Selvam', conferred by the then chief minister M
Karunanidhi, 'Sangeetha Kala Saagaram', bestowed by Kanchi Kamakoti
Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, 'Gayaka Shikamani' and 'Sangeetha
Kala Sarathy', conferred by the Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha in December
1997, 'Sangeetha Choodamani', conferred by Krishna Gana Sabha in 1983, 'Sangeetha
Kalasagaram', conferred by Sri Jayendra in 1995, 'Sangeetha Rathnakara',
conferred by the 21st Cleveland Aradhana Committee, 1998.
The title of Sangeetha
Kala Nipuna of the Mylapore Fine Arts Club was conferred on him on
December 13 this year. Seshagopalan was also made the 'Asthana Vidwan' of
Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt by the Paramacharya along with a title of 'Sangeetha
Sudhakara'.
He had also acted in a
Tamil feature film, 'Thodi Ragam', in which he sang a number of songs. TNS
has also acted as Lord Vishnu in a teleserial produced by R S Manoharan,
titled 'Narakasuran'.
More than 50 music
companies have released Seshagopalan's performances. HMS produced 'Kaakkai
Chiraginile', featuring his vocal performance. The master of swaras - a
series of three CDs - was released by Sangeetha. Recordings of his live
concerts in Music Academy during the Chennai music festivals in 1992,
1993, 1995, 1998 and 1999 were released by AVM and HMV.
TNS is also good at
playing the veena and keyboard.
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