Sundra Vennai

Kallidaikurichi Veenai S Venkatesan belongs to the lineage of disciples of NADAJYOTHI SRI MUTHUSWAMY DIKSHITAR, who is one of the Carnatic Music Trinity.

Sri. S Venkatesan’s father, late Kallidaikurichi Vaineeka Vidwan A.Sundaram Iyer is the disciple of Sri. Ambi Dikshitar, who belongs to the tradition of Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshitar. After the demise of Sri. Ambi Dikshitar, it was Sri. A. Sundaram Iyer who was running “Karnataka Vaineeka Gana Vidyalaya”, a Music School that has been started by Sri. Ambi Dikshitar in 1933. Also to the credit of Sri. Sundaram Iyer is the immense service he did for the Carnatic Music World by publishing the kirtanas of Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshitar and his father Sri. Ramaswamy Dikshitar in the form of books in 16 volumes from the century old palm leaves preserved by Sri. Ambi Dikshitar from the times of Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshitar.

Sri. A. Sundaram Iyer had also published the kirtanas of Sri. Ambi Dikshitar and his father Sri. Subbarama Dikshitar, the author of the book “Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini”. Sri. Subbarama Dikshitar was also the Court Poet of Ettayapuram King.

Sri. S. Venkatesan, the eldest son began learning Veena and Vocal from his father late Sri. A. Sundaram Iyer as well as his mother Smt. Lakshmi Ammal from the age of four.

Based on the training received from his father for many years and continued research Sri. S. Venkatesan devised two new Veenas 1. Sundara Veena and 2. Lakshmi Veena – named after his father and mother respectively. Sri. S. Venkatesan captures the hearts of the audience by playing these two Veenas in concerts.

Based on this dictum “Sruti Maatha, Laya Pitaa” Sri. S. Venkatesan imbibed music both from his father and mother. He was the pioneer to render Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam and Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam in Veena along with accompaniments. This program (72 minutes) is available both in cassette and CD forms which has a grand welcome amongst audience. This has been reviewed as the best by popular Newspapers and Magazines.

After his father, Sri. S. Venkatesan has been successfully running the music school “Karnataka Vaineeka Gana Vidyalaya” . He also continues editing and publishing the music books following his father.

sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar
(1775 – 1835)
(Portrait drawn by the Royal Artist of Ettayapuram Samastana)

Address:

 SUNDARA VEENAI
4/51, Upstairs, Alamelumangapuram, 
Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004, South India.

Tel : +91 9444163092

Email: kallidaikurichiveenaisvenkatesan@sundaraveenai.com