Our Story

Dr.T.K.MURTHY SCHOOL OF MUSIC Dr. T.K. MURTHY @ Trivandrum Krishna Murthy, DOYEN OF RHYTHM, was born on August 13th, 1924, at Trivandrum, Kerala, to Shri Thanu Bhagavathar and Smt.Annapoorani. He is the fifth generation child of musical family, as his father, grand father and great grand fathers also took to Carnatic music as their profession. His forefathers for four generations were the “Asthana Vidwans” of Trivandrum Palace, who were called “Mullamoottu Bagavathal”. The First Generation great grand father of Shri T.K.Murthy, Shri Bagavatheeswara Bagavathar was a Carnatic vocalist. In second generation, his son, Shri Thanu Bagavathar, was a Vocalist. In the third generation, Shri Subramaniya Bagavathar, S/o Shri Thanu Bagavathar, was also a carnatic vocalist. In the fourth generation, Shri Thanu Bagavathar ( father of Shri T.K.Murthy ) was a Violin Vidwan and “Asthana Vidwan” of Trivandrum Palace. Thus, Shri T.K.Murthy, In the fifth generation of a musical family, is also an eminent multi-facet carnatic musician. On his maternal side too, his grand father was the Asthana Vidwan of Trivandrum Palace. • Right from the age of 3 years, Shri T.K.Murthy evinced interest in Carnatic classical music and rhythm. Shri Thanu Bagavathar initially taught Shri T.K.Murthy Carnatic Vocal. But, Shri T.K.Murthy developed passion and had shown inclination towards Mrudangam as his forte. Therefore, his brother Shri Gopala Krishnan started teaching him the nuances of Mrudangam. At the age of five years, Shri Murthy joined Fort School, Trivandrum, for academics. But, more than his education, he was well known in the school for his mastery in percussion. At the age of eight years itself, he accompanied to the musical discourses of Shri Harikesanallur Muthiah Bagavathar, Srirangachariyar, Mangudi Chidambaram Bhagavathar and other stalwarts. When he was studying 5th Std., Maharaja of Trivandrum Palace witnessed his percussive skills in the school function and gifted his gold ornaments in token of appreciation. This gesture of Maharaja, resulted in double promotion of Shri T.K.Murthy from 3rd to 5th Std. • In the mean time, beyond the school hours, Shri T.K.Murthy also had an advent in a drama troupe at Trivandrum. • After completing his 5th Std., at the age of eight years, he was guided to Tanjore Shri Vaidyanatha Iyer, the eminent mrudangist and Trend-setter of “Tanjavur school of Mrudangam”. Shri Vaidhyanatha Iyer was pleased with the talent of Shri Murthy in a musical discourse and was delighted to take him as his disciple. Shri Vaidyanatha Iyer, took Shri Murthy to Tanjore, where Palghat Shri Mani Iyer, another maestro of Mrudangam, was also undergoing training in the “Gurukulam” of Shri Vaidhyanatha Iyer. • Shri T.K.Murthy, was more than a biological son to his Guru Tanjavur Shri Vaidhyanatha Iyer. Shri Vaidhyanatha Iyer called Shri T.K.Murthy, 'sittu', named after the sparrow, denoting his tiny appearance but alert and dynamic character. Thus, Shri T.K. Murthy found his mentor in Tanjore Shri Vaidyanatha Iyer. • Under the tutelage of Tanjavur Shri Vaidhyanadha Iyer, Shri T.K.Murthy learnt the intricacies of “Tanjavur Style/School of Mrudangam” initially for about 3 years. Shri T.K.Murthy performed for the first time on stage, at the tender age of nine, at Coimbatore, accompanying to the vocal concert of Musiri Shri Subramania Iyer. From the age of eight years until the death of Shri Vaidhyanadha Iyer, which occurred when Shri T.K.Murthy was aged 25 years, he resided with and learnt the art of percussion from Shri Vaidhyanadha Iyer under Gurukulam pattern. Even after his marriage, Shri T.K.Murthy stayed alongwith his family at the residence of Shri Vaidhyanadha Iyer. • During the illustrious career spanning over 80 years, Shri T.K.Murthy performed more than 40,000 concerts, alongwith all eminent musicians, including Harikesanallur Muthaiah Bagavathar, Ariyakudi Shri Ramanuja Iyengar, Chembai Shri Vaidhyanatha Bagavathar, Shri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi, Madurai Dr.Somasundaram, Kunnakudi Shri R.Vaidyanathan, Lalgudi Shri Jayaraman, Shri T.V.Sankaranarayanan, Shri U.Srinivas, Mandolin, Shri D.K.Jayaraman, Dr.M.Balamurali Krishna, Shri Nedanuri Krishnamurthy and other stalwart musicians. The list is only illustrative and not exhaustive. Each of the above artistes, was unique in the style of singing. Dr.T.K.Murthy, adapted himself to the artistes with ease and had a tremendous reflex in catching their style and playing innovative rhythmic patterns. • Many a time, he shared the stage playing Kanjeera with Palghat Shri Mani Iyer and Shri Palani Subramaniam Pillai on Mrudangam. • He has the unique record of accompanying five generations of guru-sishya generation of musicians, in Shri Muthaya Bagavathar, Shri Sankara Sivam, Shri T.N.Seshagopalan, Neiveli Shri Santhana Gopalan and Shri Sriram Parthasarathy. • He has the distinction of having performed with Bharat Ratna Smt M.S.Subbulakshmi for more than fifty five years, He started accompanying her concerts at the age of 15 years and this continued upto his 70 years of age. During those fifty five years of association with Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi on stage, Shri T.K.Murthy, also contributed for many philanthropic activities alongwith Smt.M.S.Subbualakshmi. A few of such generous activities include concerts for raising funds for Kamla Nehru Hospital, New Delhi, Shri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidwat Samajam, Mylapore, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, Ramakrishna Mutt, Chennai, Music Academy, Chennai., Shanmugananda Hall, Mumbai, etc. When Shanmugananda Hall, Mumbai, was destroyed in fire accident, for resurrecting the said building, Smt. M.S. and Shri T.K.Murthy contributed by way of donating their entire concert’s remuneration. Also, for numerous recordings of Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi rendered for Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, Shri T.K.Murthy contributed his remuneration for the welfare of the temple. While raising funds for Shri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidwat Samajam, Mylapore, Shri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer on vocal, Shri M.Balamurali Krishna on viola and Shri T.K.Murthy on mrudangam rendered a concert and had foregone their remuneration. The proceeds of sale of Video of the said concert were utilized for establishing the Samajam. • While accompanying Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi at United Nations Concert, in the year 1966, Shri T.K.Murthy created a unique record as the first Indian percussionist playing at the said Forum. • Plenty of Honours and awards were bestowed on him including- Laya Ratnakara from Sivananda Saraswati, Rishikesh, Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, Mridanga Bhoopathy from Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Mridanga Bhooshanam from Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchipuram, Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1987, Palghat Mani Iyer Award by Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore, Tala Vilas Award by Sur Singar Samsad, Bombay, Kerala Sangeet Nataka Academy Fellowship, Sangeetha Kalanidhi from The Music Academy, Chennai. He was twice bestowed with “Sangeeth Nataka Academy Award” by Government of India, for his extra-ordinary percussive skills. He was also conferred with Honorary Doctorate from Arizona University, USA. Audio/Video records consisting of his percussive skills for a duration of 700 hours are archived at the Arizona University, USA for the purpose of learning and research by the future generation artists. • His mastery and intricacy, were appreciated by eminent personalities like, Sir C.V.Raman, Shri C.P.Ramasamy Iyer, Mysore & Peethapuram Highnesses, His Highness Chithira Thirunal of Trivandrum and Shri R.Venkatraman, Former President of India. • Following the footsteps of his forefathers, he was also given the credit of Asthana Vidwan in Trivandrum Palace. He held position as the Examiner of Annamalai University and headed the Music Audition Board of All India Radio. He is graded as National Artiste of the All India Radio. • During the year 2009, at the Music Academy, Chennai, while celebrating his life time Achievement, eminent musicians and percussionists from all over the world graced the occasion with their august presence and showered praise on Shri T.K.Murthy. The highlight of the said event was a scintillating two hours rhythmic shower, in which Shri T.K.Murthy himself gave a stellar performance demonstrating his prowess on mrudangam alongwith Ustad Zakir Hussain on Tabla , Shri Selvaganesh on Kanjira and Shri Vikku Vinayak Ram on Ghatam. • In the year 2013, at “Talavadhyothsav-2013”, at Delhi Tamil Sangam, Shri T.K.Murthy brought under one roof, various rhythmic instruments of India and demonstrated the power of Rhythm in the field of music. • In recognition of 80 years of his untiring services to the field of Carnatic Music, the Government of India bestowed on him the “Padmashree” award in the year 2017. • His class and quality of percussion earned him the role of a musical ambassador to many countries including Sri Lanka, Edinburgh, Rome, United Nations, USA, Germany, Paris, Geneva, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, London etc. • He is a versatile musician, as he left no field of music untouched. He performed on mrudangam for street drama, puppet show, Barathanatyam, etc. He has the inimitable class and quality in rhythmic exploits, uncanny anticipation and subtle tonal variations in phrases and patterns. • He is a multi-facet personality in that he also sings well in Carnatic and Hindustani styles, plays Ghatam, Kanjira and other percussion instruments with ease. He is a master in Konnakol as well. • He is the only Rhythm Composer in the World of Music, to have composed and played intricate rhythmic patterns such as Mohra and Korvai for 35 Talas, 72 Melakartha Talas and also for 108 Talas. • Shri T.K.Murthy had built a strong net of discipleship consisting of more than 500 disciples from all over the Universe and he had spread the nuances of “Tanjavur style/Pani of Mrudangam” throughout the world covering more than six generations. He is still imparting training to more than 500 budding youngsters. • Shri T.K.Murthy also brought up his next generation family members including his son, grand son and grand daughter in the field of Carnatic Music. In the sixth generation, his son Shri T.K.Jayaraman is a music composer. In the seventh generation, Shri Karthikeya Murthy, S/o Shri T.K.Jayaraman , is also a music composer and Music Director. • DR.T.K.MURTHY, is the only musician and a Living Legend in the World, performing on stage at the age of 95 years with the same zeal and zest which he exhibited at his age of 8 years.