Amidst the applause and accolades that have punctuated her illustrious career, renowned vocalist Nagamani Srinath stands on the cusp of adding another landmark achievement. As the skies prepare to celebrate her 74th spring on April 7, Nagamani is poised to gift the world her autobiography, a poignant memoir of melodic musings titled “Antaraalada Alaapane”, translating to “Song of the Soul”.
The autobiography is set to be unveiled by the Jnana Deepika Educational Trust based in Bengaluru. It serves as a narrative vessel, ferrying readers through the maiden voyage of her musical escapades. “The thought of putting my musical journey into words for future generations never crossed my mind. This book is a heartfelt tribute, etched from the persistent encouragement of those who cherish my music,” expresses the humble Nagamani.
Her origins are rooted in the pastoral simplicity of Jodi Gubbi, a village nestled in the Hassan district of Karnataka, where her parents GN Narayana and Venkatalakshamma, educators in Sanskrit and Kannada, inculcated in her a deep love for traditional culture. The journey began at the tender age of seven when her mother, recognizing her innate talent, sent her to Mysore to refine her vocal prowess. Under the tutelage of Arekere Narayana Rao, her inaugural guru, she swiftly graduated to a stage debut at Mysore’s celebrated Trimurthi Jayanthi Utsava when merely nine, substituting for an absent artist.
This auspicious initiation spiraled into an ensemble of performances with some of the early 1960s’ revered stalwarts such as Violin Mahadevappa, Mridanga VS Rajagopal, and Ghata MA Krishnamurthy. Her melodious footprint expanded, echoing through the cities of Mysore, Mandya, Madikeri, Bengaluru, and even into the far reaches of North Karnataka.
Duly recognized for her musical intellect, Nagamani was honored with a Central Government Scholarship, which embarked her on a scholarly pilgrimage to Chennai at twenty, seeking the wisdom of the venerated Ramnad Krishnan. “Each day unfurled as a revelation, magnifying my perception of music, guided by the teachings of maestros like TN Krishnan, Palghat KV Narayanaswamy, TM Tyagarajan, and Paroor Anantharaman.” She was also graced with advanced lessons from luminaries like DK Jayaraman, Veena R Visweshwaran, and Gowrie Kuppuswamy.
It was violin virtuoso Lalgudi Jayaraman who imprinted on her the indispensable rigor of sadhane, the disciplined practice that ensures a singer’s unwavering precision. Meanwhile, ML Vasanthakumari, another towering figure in Carnatic music, became an admirer of Nagamani’s craft. Yet, it is the teachings of her guru Ramnad Krishnan that resonate profoundly within her: “The intricacies of rendition define their classicality.”
Asserting her guru’s tenet that tradition must harmonize with progression, Nagamani has transcended performance to become a reservoir of creativity. Her prolific output includes the tuning of hundreds of dasara padas, alongside the composition of 200 pieces encompassing varna, kriti, and tillana, now staples in music and dance repertoires. However, her magnum opus remains the “Gurukula Series”—an exhaustive 500-hour audio-visual collection for music students, spanning over two decades of dedication, available on YouTube and DVD.
Her trophy cabinet gleams with honors such as the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Karnataka Rajyothsava Award, Chandana National Award, and a litany of others culminating in the prestigious Panchakshari Gavai Rashtreeya Prashasti awarded by the Karnataka Government in 2024.
Nagamani, ever the muse and guardian of Carnatic music, reiterates the credence shared by her mentors: that the true measure of a musician lies in their ability to educate. With a legacy of nearly a hundred professional disciples spanning the globe, she states, “Enriching students with the essence of music is the quintessence of being a musician.”
The upcoming release of “Antaraalada Alaapane” will commence with performances by her students, a fitting prologue to the written symphony of her life’s work.
(Antaraalada Alaapane will grace the shelves on April 7, 10am, at Babburkamme Seva Samithi, 17, Seshadri Road, Gandhi Nagar. For further details, interested parties may contact 98451 19995.)
