Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer was a South Indian Carnatic music singer and musicologist. He was also known as Mudikondan - the name of his native village.
Background
Venkatarama Iyer was born in Mudikondan, a small village in the Nannilam taluk of Tiruvarur district in Tamil Nadu, India to parents Chakrapani lyer and Kamakshi. His father was a singer of Hindureligious hymns while his maternal grandfather Srivanchiyam Swaminatha lyer rendered padams and javalis with lilt that earned him the pet name 'talukku' Swaminatha Iyer. His uncle Bommalattam Mani Iyer was also a famous musician.
Education
Mudikondan's father wanted him to learn English, so he went to College in Chennai after school. However, his father died, which forced him to leave college and return to his village. He then decided to receive formal training in Carnatic music. He furthered his education with help from Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer. He learned tala and laya from a 'Tavil Vidwan' known as Ammachatram Kandaswami Pillai. Simizhi Sundaram Iyer taught him the bhava aspect. Swaminatha Iyer came from Saint Tyagaraja's lineage while Sundaram Iyer was from Muthuswami Dikshitar's lineage. This ensured that Mudikondan acquired a very rich repertoire of Krithis. He also spoke many languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit and English, had a working knowledge of Astrology and, Ayurveda, and frequently prepared herbal medicinesat home.
Music career
His inaugural concert took place at Cuddalore when he was 17 years old. In 1919, he performed his first concert in Chennai under the auspices of the Mylapore Sangeetha Sabha. Mudikondan was an expert in rendering Ragam Thanam Pallavi. He had information at his finger tips. When anyone wanted to clear a doubt, he could explain without referring to any book. He would answer the dispute without ambiguity. He lived in his native village and taught students there. The Hindu newspaper reported that Mudikondan was "A great debater on the nuances of music and he used to explain in a remarkable way even obscure points." From 1935 onward he regularly attended the Madras Music Academy's annual conference. He was an expert on both Lakshana and Lakshya aspects of the Carnatic music. He explained the correct way of rendering niraval, ragam, tanam and pallavi. Dr. V. Raghavan, President of the Music Academy successfully convinced him to move to Chennai. Mudicondan moved to Chennai in 1948 and thereafter took a very active role in the Academy's activities. He was appointed Vice-Principal of the Teachers' College of Music. He became its Principal in 1956 succeeding illustrious predecessors such as Tiger Varadachariar, Appa Iyer and Valadi Krishnaiyer. He published many articles from time to time. They have been reproduced in the Souvenir Publication of Chennai Music Academy. According to The Hindu, his lecture and demonstrations at the annual conferences of the Music Academy were well-attended by scholars, students, and professionals. In 1952 he gave a presentation of a pallavi in Simhanandana Tala that made waves. He retired from the Teachers' College of Music in 1972, but continued there as an Honorary Professor.
