Sri Basavanagudi G. Nataraj
Sri Basavanagudi G. Nataraj
Born on 25 th August 1943 to Late. Sri G.N.Joshi & Late. Smt. G.Rathnamma. His Father Late. Sri G.N.Joshi retired as Assistant Head Master from Arya Vaidya Shaala, Balepet. He was an ardent music fan. He was a very close associate of Dr. D.V. Gundappa and was one of the founder members of The Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs (Bangalore).
His Mother Late. Smt. Rathnamma was a housewife. She belonged to a traditional family of Royal Priests. Her father was Rajapurohit Sri Kumara Shastry, who was in the Mysore Palace. Smt. Rathnamma was a good singer and equally good lyricist. His Maternal Uncle Late. Sri. K.R.Seetharama Shastry {Ku.Ra.See.} was a very well known film personality. He was an acclaimed director, producer & a brilliant lyricist of Kannada Film Industry.
GURUS
With such a richly illustrious Musical & traditional background running in the family, it is quite evident that music flowed in Sri Basavanagudi G.Nataraj’s blood. Started learning Vocal in 1953 under Vidwan Sri H.K.VENKATRAMANA SHASTHRY Later on started learning Violin under Vidwan Sri A.VEERABHADRAIAH in the year 1954. Continued violin training under Vidwan Sri H.V.KRISHNAMURTHY from 1955 spanning 8 years.
PERFORMANCES
Started performing in 1957. Since then he gave Violin Solo Performances in prestigious Sabhas all over the country. He gave Solo performances in AIR and Doordarshan. He had also given his violin support to many senior artists of the country on many occasions. Also featured in many National Level Festivals. He was one of the sort after ‘Violin Solo Artist’ of the country. In 1963 Sri G.Nataraj joined the Ramakrishna Mutt Mission as a Bramhachari, to know in depth the way of spiritual life. He stayed in as an inmate of the Mutt doing spiritual practice and social service. For almost 9 years of spiritual education and experience, he came out in 1971 to lead the life of ‘Grihasthaashrama’. This aspect of spiritual enlightenment is a divine force that guided him to lead a successful career as a Professional Musician.
He, apart from his guru s ‘s style, followed the impeccable style of ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ Vidwan Sri Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Garu & ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ Vidwan Sri M.S.Gopalakrishnan. His presentation was filled with rich sound, clarity & ‘Shruthi Shuddham’. He had a unique style of rendition with the blend of class with mass. His style was simple yet different, attractive and experimental. He drew inspiration from the Carnatic, Hindustani, Western & Folk styles of Music and adapted them in his rendition. He had gained acclamation from critics & audiences. He attributed these as blessings of his parents, his Guru s, his elders and lord almighty for giving fruits to his ‘Saadhana’.
He had given Violin saath for Hindusthani Vocal concerts & performed in Jugalbandhis. He had performed for Harikatha, Devotional Music, Theatre, Dance & Light Music. He had performed for Harikathas with Sri Gopinatha Das (founder of Prabhat Kalavidaru), Sri Jayasimha Dasaru & many others. He had performed in devotional concerts and projects with H.H. Sri Sri Keshavananda Bharati Swamiji of Edneer Mutt, Smt. Shyamal Bhave, Smt. Shantha Jayatheertha & others. He worked with noted Theatre personality Sri B.V.Karanth & performed for many of his plays including the famous ‘KAKANAKOTE’. He had played dance concerts for Smt.Chandra Bagha & Sri U.S. Krishna Rao, Smt. Maya Rao, Smt. Narmada, Smt. Radha Sridhar, Smt. Padmini Rao, Smt. Padmini Ramachandran, Smt. Bhanumathi, Sri Sridhar & others. He had performed with noted light music artists like Sri Mysore Ananthaswamy, Sri C.Ashwath, Sri Shimoga Subbanna, Smt. B.K.Sumitra, Sri Y.K.Muddukrishna, Smt. Rathnamala Prakash, Smt.Malathi Sharma, Smt. B.R.Chaya & many others. Performed in the divine presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Swami ji of Sri Sharada Peetam Sringeri and received his blessings. Performed in the divine presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Vishvesha Theertha Swami ji of Sri Pejawara Mutt and received his blessings. Performed in the divine presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathi Sacchidananda Swami ji of Sri Avadhootha Datta Peetam Mysore and received his blessings. Performed in the “Vasantothsava” at Sri Puttana Chetty Town Hall organized under the joint auspices of South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur and South Zone Cultural Centre, Tanjavur in the presence of Sri P. C. Alexander, Former Governor of Maharashtra. Performed at the Sports and Cultural meet of the Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Goa. Performed in Vidhana Souda Banquet Hall on several Occasions. Performed in the Annual programmes organized by the Karnataka State Sangitha Nritya Academy. Performed in the programmes organized by Department of Kannada & Culture. Had been a judge & adjudicator for the Scholarship exams conducted by Karnataka State Sangitha Nritya Academy and Department of Kannada & Culture.
TEACHING
He founded ‘SRI RAMAKRISHNA SANGEETHA VIDYALAYA’ in 1971. Since then he has been training several students in violin. Some of his famous disciples are Sri B. U. Ganesh Prasad, Sri Balu Raghuram (UK), Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran & many others. Many of his students have taken up the Music Exams conducted by The Karnataka State Secondary Education Board and have come out with excellent results. Many of his students are performing in concerts. He had conducted special multi-violin programmes where his disciples performed on stage under his direction.
Sri G.Nataraj was a disciplinary. He was a very strict teacher. He was a hard task Master. His main motto to his students was "Punctuality, Regularity & Sincerity". He was very concerned about his students progress in music & otherwise. He taught several students of various caste & creed. His only aim is to serve for the cause of music and contribute in his own way.
Sri G.Nataraj was a very encouraging person. He used to encourage any upcoming artist and make him/her play with him in his concerts. Many artists who have made a mark in the field today were initially encouraged him to a great extent.
AWARDS & TITLES
“VIOLIN VAADANA CHATURA” by Sri Rama Mandiram (Chamarajpet) Bangalore, conferred by H. H. Sri Sri Dr. Shivakumara Swamiji of Sri Siddaganga Mutt, in the year 1975, “KARNATAKA KALASHRI” by Karnataka State Sangeetha Nrithya Academy, Govt. Of Karnataka, “ARTIST OF THE YEAR” by The Bangalore Gayana Samaja in their Annual Music Conference, “ARTIST OF THE YEAR” by Sri Rama Seva Mandali (Fort high School), Chamarajapet, “HONORARY AWARD” by the Bengaluru Maha Nagara Paalike on the occasion of Sri Kempegowda day, “DHANURVEENA KESARI”, “DHANURVEENA KALARATHNA”, “TANTRI SWARAMANDALA VAADANA PANCHANANA”, “GANA KALAA SHEKARA”, “PITILU VAADANA CHATURA”. “NAADA CHINTAAMANI”, “KALABHOOSHANA”, “TANTRIVAADYA VAADANA NIPUNA”, “SAARANGI VAADANA PRAVEENA”, “RANGA KALASHRI”, “TANTRI VAADYA SAAMRAT”, “DHANURVEENA KALA VANI”, “KALA JYOTHI”,“NADA KALA PARIMALA”, “SANGITHA KALAARAVINDA” & “SANGITHA KALAA CHANDRIKA”
He was felicitated by prestigious organisations like Sri Vidya Ganapathi Seva Samithi, Dodda Ganesha Temple, Basavanagudi, Sri Dattathreye Kala Samskruthika Kendra, Sri Ramachandra Sangitha Kala Shaale, Sri Durga Parameshwari Nritya Niketan, Laya Surabhi, Sri Ayyanar College of Music, Sri Maathru Devi Vishwa Shanthi Ashram, Sri Thyagaraja Sangitha Sabha Charities Trust Mysore, Sri Shankara Seva Samithi Tumkur, Sri Rishi Cultural Educational Centre® Bangalore, Raaga Sannidhi Bangalore, Gaana Bhaarathi Mysore, Syndicate Bank Basavanagudi, Amara Bharathi Kalaa Vrinda, Sri Guru Sai Samskruthika Kala Samsthe, Mulukanadu Mahasangha Mysore, Sri Rama Temple Trust (Amruthahalli) Bangalore & Sri Guru Smrithi Kala Kendra.
His wife Smt. N.Lakshmi was a retired employee from the Syndicate Bank. His daughter Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran is a qualified Vocalist and Violinist presently working for MICROSOFT. His son Sri Amrit.N is a Khanjira Artiste of International Fame.