S. Somasundaram, founder and president of Gaanasudha
Sri. Somasundaram is a shining beacon in the Sugama sangeetha genre of music in Karnataka. He has excelled as a singer, performer, composer, teacher and many other roles he has donned in the past few decades with equal aplomb. Testimony to his talent and immense contribution to music are the awards he has been honored with, appreciation he has garnered from music lovers, critics and students alike.
Music is his passion and a hobby he developed into an institution, the Gaanasudha Sugama Sangeetha Academy that he founded in 1957 which continues to thrive and enthrall music lovers everywhere.
On the professional front, S. Somasundaram worked for Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore for several decades and retired as Deputy Manager. Post retirement, all his energies have been devoted to composing more music, bringing out more audio releases, authoring a book of his compositions (with lyrical notation) and tutoring students in Gaanasudha's rich musical tradition.
GURUS
Trained in Carnatic classical music under the tutelage of Sri. S. Krishna Iyengar and later under Sangeeta Vidushi Smt. Ratnamma Krishnamurthy. Later on, inspired by Gaana Kogile Sri. P. Kalinga Rao, he taught himself Kannada Bhaavageethe and Jaanapada geethe.
MUSIC CAREER
In the earlier half of the 1950s, when he was a student in Mysore's Sharada Vilas college, he started singing Bhaavageethe encouraged by the leading Kannada stalwarts of the day, Prof. S. V. Ranganna and Prof. H.M. Shankaranarayana Rao.This was followed by performances in many gatherings and Mysore Akashavani. In 1957, he came to Bangalore and founded Gaanasudha Sugama Sangeetha Academy and egged on by Sri. Aa. Na. Krishna Rao and Sri M. Ramamurthy and Sri. Mysore Natraj, who were responsible for revival of Kannada in those days, he gave more than 1000 programmes in Kannada Bhaavageethe (Sugama sangeetha) all over Karnataka and also in other states of India thereby earning admiration and appreciation of music lovers, fans, poets and critics everywhere.
Composed lyrics and folk songs adopting them to theatrical productions , gave voice to these compositions, acted and directed in kannada plays like – Hayavadana ( Girish Karnad), Shudra Tapasvi, and Raktakshi ( Kuvempu), Ashwathaman ( B M Shree ), Jo Kumaraswamy (Chandrashekarakambara), Kattale Belaku (Sriranga), Lambodara (Dasarathy Dikshit) and Kabuliwala (Children’s Play).
AKASHAVANI AND DOORDARSHAN
Performed several times for AIR Bangalore, AIR Mysore, Dooradarshan Bangalore and Dooradarshan Hyderabad, composing music for works of many poets and singing the same in programmes. Also composed music and acted in plays and TV soaps like – Kabuliwala, Himani and 7 Dwarves, Namkampni, Nivruthi Pravruthi, Kanasu – Nanasu and many more.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Sri. Somasundaram is a shining beacon in the Sugama sangeetha genre of music in Karnataka. He has excelled as a singer, performer, composer, teacher and many other roles he has donned in the past few decades with equal aplomb. Testimony to his talent and immense contribution to music are the awards he has been honored with, appreciation he has garnered from music lovers, critics and students alike.Music is his passion and a hobby he developed into an institution, the Gaanasudha Sugama Sangeetha Academy that he founded in 1957 which continues to thrive and enthrall music lovers everywhere.
On the professional front, S. Somasundaram worked for Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore for several decades and retired as Deputy Manager. Post retirement, all his energies have been devoted to composing more music, bringing out more audio releases, authoring a book of his compositions (with lyrical notation) and tutoring students in Gaanasudha's rich musical tradition.
GURUS
Trained in Carnatic classical music under the tutelage of Sri. S. Krishna Iyengar and later under Sangeeta Vidushi Smt. Ratnamma Krishnamurthy. Later on, inspired by Gaana Kogile Sri. P. Kalinga Rao, he taught himself Kannada Bhaavageethe and Jaanapada geethe.
MUSIC CAREER
In the earlier half of the 1950s, when he was a student in Mysore's Sharada Vilas college, he started singing Bhaavageethe encouraged by the leading Kannada stalwarts of the day, Prof. S. V. Ranganna and Prof. H.M. Shankaranarayana Rao.This was followed by performances in many gatherings and Mysore Akashavani. In 1957, he came to Bangalore and founded Gaanasudha Sugama Sangeetha Academy and egged on by Sri. Aa. Na. Krishna Rao and Sri M. Ramamurthy and Sri. Mysore Natraj, who were responsible for revival of Kannada in those days, he gave more than 1000 programmes in Kannada Bhaavageethe (Sugama sangeetha) all over Karnataka and also in other states of India thereby earning admiration and appreciation of music lovers, fans, poets and critics everywhere.
- He has performed in the esteemed presence of the Prime ministers of the day Sri. Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Karnataka Chief ministers Sri. S. Nijalingappa, B.D. Jatti, S.R. Kanti and several other senior leaders and dignitaries and and won their appreciation.
- He enthralled thousands of music lovers and Non-kannada speaking audiences and won their appreciation and affection when he sang Kannada bhavageethe and Jaanapadageethe as part of touring Gaanasudha group in cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Bhubhaneshwar, Hyderabad.
- He composed and set to music the poems and works of senior and older poets like Sri. Kuvempu, Sri. D.R.Bendre, Sri. D.V.G, Sri. Pu.Thi.Na., Sri. Gopalakrishna Adiga, Sri. Raghavendra Itagi, Sri. Siddiah Puranika and senior poets of our time like Sri. G.S.Shivarudrappa, Sri. Channaveera Kanavi, Sri. N.S.Lakshminarayana Bhatta, Prof. Nissar Ahmed, Sri. M.N.Vyasa Rao, Prof. Doddarange Gowda, Sri. B.R.Lakshman Rao, H.S. Venkatesh Murthy, Sri. Markandapuram Srinivasa and several others, and sang it in their presence, garnering appreciation from the poets themselves for his musical genius.
- In fact, on one occasion in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru he sang 'Idaava raaga idaava taala' written by Sri. D.R. Bendre in the presence of the esteemed poet himself. Sri. Bendre was so impressed with the musical composition that he said "My poem, a body framework has been infused with blood and flesh and given life... listening to it, I now realize how beautiful my poem is!" Etched in memory is Sri. Bendre's wish that he hoped that Somasundaram will sing many more of his poems and patted him on his back. This is just one instance of the love Somasundaram garnered from poets and fans alike.
- Shared his musical knowledge and experience with more than 1000 students training them without aspiring for monetary gain and some of the students are now independently performing at various programs.
- Participated in Inter University Youth Festival at Delhi in 1956 representing Mysore University.
- Chief Musician and Director of the State Cultural Troupe in the National Youth Festival held at Baroda in 1958.
- Represented State Cultural Troupe as Chief Musician in the Republic Day Celebrations at New Delhi in 1960. Also represented Karnataka as Chief Musician in the Folk Dance Festival at Delhi in the same year.
- Represented Karnataka State Cultural Troupe as Chief Musician in the programme of Cultural Exchange Sponsored by Karnataka Sangeetha Nataka Academy in 1962 and 1965 held at various states like – West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Composed Music for several plays and works of playwrights of Karnataka state and other states and acted in those Dramas contributing to the success of plays.
- During the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of ‘Ganasudha Sugama Sangeetha Academy’ authored and formally released book ‘Ganasudha Bhava Dhare’ containing music compositions with lyrical notation for 101 poems of 33 senior poets. The event was made greater by the release of the documented work by renowned poet laureate Dr. G S Shivarudrappa.
Composed lyrics and folk songs adopting them to theatrical productions , gave voice to these compositions, acted and directed in kannada plays like – Hayavadana ( Girish Karnad), Shudra Tapasvi, and Raktakshi ( Kuvempu), Ashwathaman ( B M Shree ), Jo Kumaraswamy (Chandrashekarakambara), Kattale Belaku (Sriranga), Lambodara (Dasarathy Dikshit) and Kabuliwala (Children’s Play).
AKASHAVANI AND DOORDARSHAN
Performed several times for AIR Bangalore, AIR Mysore, Dooradarshan Bangalore and Dooradarshan Hyderabad, composing music for works of many poets and singing the same in programmes. Also composed music and acted in plays and TV soaps like – Kabuliwala, Himani and 7 Dwarves, Namkampni, Nivruthi Pravruthi, Kanasu – Nanasu and many more.
AWARDS AND HONORS
- Honored with medal from President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad during Republic Day celebrations in 1960, also won appreciation from the Prime Minister of India of the time, Sri. Jawaharlal Nehru
- Awarded medals and won appreciation from the State Chief Ministers of Orissa and Karnataka in 1965
- ‘Sangeetha Ganga’ award in 1996 for Sugama Sangeetha
- ‘Karnataka Kalashree’ Award and conferring of title by Karnataka State Music and Dance Academy in 1997
- ‘Paddanna Award’ for contribution to Kannada Theatre in 1998
- Award by Bangalore Advocates Union in 2002
- ‘Ananya Kalabhigna’ Award in 2003
- Prestigious ‘Rajyotsavaa’ Award and honor from Government of Karnataka in 2005 for Sugama Sangeetha
- Honored by ‘Karnataka Nataka Academy’ in 2005
- ‘AG’s Kalashree’ Award in 2008
- Honor and Award from Aravinda Kalavrunda in 2008
- ‘Swara Kala Gaurava’ Award from Saraswathi Sangeetha Vidyalaya in 2009
- Award on Ex-Prime Minister Sri. Atal Bihari Vajapeyi’s birthday in 2010
- Honor and Felicitation from Sapthaswara Sangeetha Vidyalaya in 2011
- ‘Hamsa Rathna’ Award and title from Hamsa Jyothi cultural organisation in 2011
AUDIO RELEASES
Chanchareeka (2004), Hakki Haaruthide (2005), Belagu (2007), Hrudayaraga (2008), Kaliyona Baa, Mudisona Hosadeepa - MP3 (2009), Hoobana (2010) have been released under renowned Kannada audio label Lahari recordings. OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Judged many prestigious contests and competitions apart from participating in cultural events (mainly Light Music), Lecture Programmes and Debates in events organized by State Department of Kannada & Culture, State Academy for Music and Dance, Universities, Public sector industries and various cultural organizations.
- Been interviewed by the print and broadcast media (AIR & TV) on several occasions.
- Acted as a member of the selection committee (appointed by Government of Karnataka) for the prestigious ‘Saint Shishunala Shariff’ Award.
- Performed at Hampi Utsava, Dasara Cultural festivities, Independence day, Rajyothsava day and Republic Day celebrations sponsored by the Government of Karnataka and several other private organizations.
