TRICHY SANKARAN
Mrdangam maestro, scholar, composer, collaborator

Trichy Sankaran, born in the year 1942, had his early musical training under his cousin Sri P.A. Venkataraman. He started at the age of 5, and became seriously involved with the art of drumming at the age of 7. When his first teacher Sri P.A.V. moved to Delhi from Trichy (Trichinappalli) to take up a job initially as a music instructor, and later to become the staff artist of All India Radio Delhi, Sankaran followed him for his musical studies. While in Delhi, Sankaran met Pandit Ravi Shankar for the first time at the AIR of Delhi, and played a solo in misra chapu tala for him at the age of 10 (year 1952). It was the same year that Sankaran won the gold medal from the Shankar’s Weekly Children’s Theatre Competition. Again, in the same year, he made his first public appearance (debut) performing with musicians in Harikathakalakshepam (religious discourse -narration with musical accompaniment).

Then Sankaran came under the direct tutelage of the legendary mrdangam maestro the late Sri Palani Subramania Pillai. Sankaran made his formal arangetram i.e. musical debut at the age of 13, in the year 1955, performing in tandem with Sri Palani Subramania Pillai in the concert of Sri Alathoor Brothers, and Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. This concert took place in Sankaran’s home town Trichy at the famous Nanrudaian Pillayar Kovil (Ganesh temple). Sri Palani Subramania Pillai gave Sankaran unique opportunities to perform duos with him to many top rank Karnatak musicians of that time, that included artists such as Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer, G.N. Balasubramaniam, Alathoor Brothers, Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer, Flute T.N. Swaminatha Pillai, and others.

Sri Palani - Sankaran duet continued from 1955 to 1962, until May 1962, when Sri Pillai died of cerebral hemorege. In fact Sankaran took the seat of Sri Pillai of his last concert accompanying the veteran singer Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

MUSICAL LINEAGE OF TRICHY SANKARAN
PUDHUKKOTTAI SCHOOL

MANMOONDIAH PILLAI (1857-1921)
V
PALANI MUTHIAH PILLAI (1878-1945)
V
PALANI SUBRAMANIA PILLAI (1908-62)
V                        V
P.A. VENKATARAMAN  >   TRICHY SANKARAN
(1924-89)                               

Initially in tandem with his guru, and then on his own, Trichy Sankaran has accompanied all the top-ranking artists in the Karnatak field. He won the President’s Award in 1958, and has been ranked A TOP by the panel of All India Radio.

His first concert trip abroad was to Shiraz, Iran when he performed at the International Music Festival, Persipolis Shiraz in the year 1969.

Among many notable concerts, a special jugalbandhi concert of North and South Indian music that was the most outstanding and memorable, in which Sankaran played with Pandit Shanta Prasad (tabla), Vilayat Khan (sitar), and Lalgudi Jayaraman (violin) in the year 1971 at Madras, deserves a special mention.

CULTURAL AMBASSADOR

As a founder of the annual Tyagaraja Festival in Toronto -honouring the great South Indian saint-composer -Sankaran has worked closely with the Asian community and contributed in large measure to the growth and success of this Festival.

Sankaran’s close artistic collaboration with a number of established Canadian Arts organization show his successful integration of Indian and mainstream Canadian culture through his creative compositions, performances, and participation in festival concerts.

Through his performances, compositions, and extensive collaborations, he has made an indelible mark on the Canadian musical establishment. This contribution is deepened through his important work in the fields of academic, teaching, and as a cultural ambassador. All of this work is imbued with his unique sense of mastery and total dedication to his art.