Radha amma

ABOUT THE GREAT RADHA VISWANTHAN

SMT. RADHA VISWANATHAN

Born on Dec 11th 1934, Radha had early training in Music from T.R.Balasubramaniam, Ramnad Krishnan and Mayavaram Krishna Iyer. She began accompanying her mother Smt Subbulakshmi on stage from her 4th year. She combined this with intensive training in dance from Vazhavoor Ramiah Pillai, whom she started training with from her 5th year and made a reputation for herself as a highly accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer. She also teamed up with Kalki’s daughter Anandi and the Radha – Anandi duo was a hit in the pre independence years. On her 21st year, Radha gave up dancing to concentrate exclusively on singing. Both Subbulakshmi and Radha jointly learnt Kritis from Sri Musiri Subramanya Iyer, Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer & Sri K.V.Narayanaswamy and Padams from Smt Brinda.

Radha also made her debut in films in her 6th Year as Bharata in MS’s ‘Shakuntalam’ and as “Baby Meera” in the MS’s Magnum Opus, Musical Masterpiece ‘Meera’.

Singing with her celebrated mother was an education in itself for Radha. Smt.Subbulakshmi nursed Radha’s talent with care and affection, firmness and much discipline that Radha was soon as an accomplished vocalist in her own right.

As the years rolled on, mother and daughter developed into a duo of unusual finesse and understanding – a combination of maturity and wisdom on the one hand and of youthful enthusiasm on the other, the younger partner trying to emulate her mother at every step. Radha was to soon become a vital force in MS’ concerts.

Smt.Radha Viswanathan has performed all over India and the world with her mother including the USA, Europe, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. In 1966 along both of them toured Europe and a coast to coast tour of the USA, thus becoming the first Vocalists of Carnatic Music to cross the shores of India. It was in this tour where the famous UN Concert on Oct 24th 1966 took place wherein both of them sang the song composed specially for the occasion by the Paramacharya of Kanchi, “Maithreem Bhajatha”.

Smt Radha Viswanathan, the torch bearer of the MS Bani was honored by the Sri Lalithakala Academy Foundation, with the title of “Sangeetha Ratna” during the Geethanjali Function being held in memory of her Mother Smt M.S.Subbulakshmi on 16th March 2008 at Bangalore.

A book by Gowri Ramnarayan – “MS & Radha – A Saga of Steadfast Devotion” was released by the Hon Prime Minister of India , His Excellency Dr Manmohan Singh on Dec 11th 2008 at New Delhi in the presence of Smt Radha Viswanathan. Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar received the First copy.

On April 3rd 2010, Smt Radha Viswanathan was honoured with the title Kala Chandrika by the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Committee. On April 10th 2010 Smt Radha along with her grand daughter S.Aishwarya gave a grand recital at the Main Classroom Hall of the Cleveland State University.

Add comment April 30, 2010 krishna priya