The Thanjavur delta, which is synonymous with Carnatic music, has produced many sons of the soil who have excelled in the music field. One such ‘Cauveriyin mainthan’ is P S Narayanaswamy, who though did not belong to a musical parampara, yet has cast a spell on the audience for over five decades.
His tryst with music started at the age of eight when he came under the tutelage of Tirupambaram Somasundaram Pillai. Music coursed through his veins which made his father discern the skill in the lad. Rigorous practice at dawn for about 4 hours laid a strong foundation for his future musical endeavours. An adolescent singing alapana, swaras with felicity is the hallmark of a true vidwan. Narayanaswamy started performing in marriage concerts at the age of 15, elaborating on a raga followed by swara exercises.
PSN, as he is affectionately called, was spotted by the ‘Pitamaha of Carnati music’, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer who bade him join his gurukula, enamoured with Narayanaswamy’s method of singing. At that time, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was at Trivandrum and principal of the Music College. PSN’s musical odyssey started there. After a stint at Trivandrum, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer returned to Chennai. PSN also came back and joined the All India Radio. From then there was no looking back for him. He is blessed to have accompanied his guru in all his concerts.
“The rigorous regime of gurukula vasam honed my skills,” declares PSN who is obsessed with his guru! The patriarchal Pitamaha – Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer - chiselled PSN into a distinguished artiste.
PSN’s association with his guru is laced with many interesting episodes. Decades ago, when PSN was sharing the platform with his guru, to show the world the potential of the young lad (PSN), his guru signalled to him to continue a kirtana. He had just learnt it and had not memorised it. PSN had a paper in which the song was written and he referred it occasionally. On seeing this, his guru at once snatched it from his hand and threw it away. He then asked him to continue the song. All this in the midst of a kutchery. PSN was visibly shaken and scared and learnt a lesson from his guru who always knew the sahityas by-heart before going for a concert.
PSN is a torch-bearer of a great tradition and reminiscences about it now and then. He feels that ‘kelvi gnanam’ (listening to music) is very important. Listening and practising the ‘sangatis’ is vital for a performer. Copying will only land an artiste in a pitiable condition. Creativity without detracting from the prescribed format should be practised by an artiste, declares
PSN.
Performing with disciples is entirely different from performing alone, according to PSN. A veteran guru, he has a galaxy of students who emulate him.
Talking about the do’s and don’ts of singing in a kutchery, he shares his thoughts with us. PSN feels that there should be two main ragas to elaborate. The composition of Tyagaraya should be featured and Tamil songs should also be included. Every artiste should start with a Varnam as it moulds the voice and helps in mellowing the vocal chords. He advices the artistes to use a wide range of talas to lend variety to the concert. Ragam-Talam-Pallavi exhibits the musical intellect of the artiste. Only at the age of 30, an artiste is full-fledged to ascend a platform, opines
PSN.
PSN has been decorated with a slew of awards including the Padma Bhushan. His foreign sojourns have fetched him laurels as well. He is a simple man with clear ideals, whose strict adherence to tradition has made him follow the footprints of his guru. A titan among ‘teachers’, he strides the musical world like a colossus radiating music.
Contact Address:
No: 6, Narasimhapuram,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 005
Phone: 24936232
P S NARAYANASWAMY
