Neyveli Santhanagopalan

Neyveli Santhanagopalan is a highly regarded young singer in Carnatic (South Indian classical) music today. Blessed with a good range, he exhibits tradition in his every approach. Good expression, clear enunciation fo the sahitya (lyrics) and clarity even in speed are the hall marks of his rendition.

Santhanagopalan comes from a music loving family in Neyveli, Tamilnadu. His music education began there with Chembai Sri. Anandan, a nephew of the great Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. This was at the age of eight. He made speedy progress and within a couple of years, at the age of ten, he gave his first public concert (arangetram). With his guru"s patient guidance, he successfully overcame the difficulties caused by his voice `breaking".

When he was thirteen, he began further studies, supported by a scholarship from the Indian government, with Srirangam Sri Ranganathan. He benifitted greatly form the intesive training that the great scholar imparted. Later, he heard Madurai T N Seshagopalan sing in Neyveli. In his own words,

"I was over-awed when I first heard him in Neyveli. I decided to learn from him. But it wasn"t so easy. Everytime I approached him, he would not give a positive reply. I waited. I would attend his concerts, recieve him at railway stations. And finally the day day came when I could become his student."

He spent the next few years learning from the redoubtable master, staying with him and learning from him in the gurukula tradition. He has absorbed his teachers" music and has, from them, evolved a style of his own. He says,

Every musician has to first understand his guru"s `bani" (individual voice, style) and absorb it. Then he should distill a bani for himself. He should also give as many concerts as possible. Only then will each musician be able to shape his own music and in the process shape Carnatic music itself.
He has evolved an unique approach which is considered by rasikas (connoiseurs / critics ) to be a happy blend of the styles of the great masters of the past.

His musicial sense is enviable, even when compared to the senior artistes. He uses his musical stamina and versatile endowments judiciously. He has a relaxed attitude and ample `manodharma", which helps hin in the exposition of the raga. At the same time, he is a natural gamaka singer and, like his guru, excelles in speedy passages as well.

Today, he is a regular in all the major music hall in the Carnatic music circuit. He is a recognized grade A artiste on the All India Radio and Doordarshan. He has frequently toured outside India. His last tour of the USA was in 1994. His awards and titles are many. Among them are the Yuva Kala Bharathi from the Bharat Kalachar, Isai Peroli from the Karthik Fine Arts Sabha, and the Youth Award for excellence from the Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust. He is also a dedicated teacher. He has started his own musical school which he has aptly named `Guru Krupa" (i.e. Guru"s Grace).

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