PSK as We know
FOREWORD by Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee
Sangeetha Kala Acharya, Vidushi Smt RADHA NAMBOODIRI
Shri P.S. Krishnamoorthy is a lyricist, composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, theatre actor and director all rolled into one.
He is a very rare phenomenon of an individual with multiple talents in various genres of music. I met him for the first time as a contestant and then a 1st prize winner in AIR competition in 1983 in the category of the rarest instrument Harmonium at AIR, Bombay, which paved the way for Harmonium to become accepted as a musical instrument for solo playing and accompaniment in Carnatic classical music broadcast regularly. This in itself is indeed a great achievement.
To top it all, he has worn the mantle of a Vaggeyakara since 1978 with over 500 songs to his credit, covering a wide range of handling several musical forms & genres in Classical music – such as pada varnams, taana varnams, kritis, keerthanams, swarajathis, jathiswarams, tillanas, bhajans and naamavalis. Some of the remarkable features woven into his compositions are raaga mudra, swaraakshara, chittaswarams, swara sahityam et al.,which come naturally and spontaneously to him without any extra effort on his part.
He has scored music for many Bharatanatyam dance ballets and even conceptualised some of them. He has also created and composed compositions in new ragas like “Radhapriya, Hamsavasantham, Gaayakaangi & Chaaru Guha Shrunkhala” besides composing in rare ragas like Alankaarapriya, NirOshta, Kamala, Pranavaswaroopini, Nand, Gavati, Gopriyaa etc., which would certainly leave his footprints on the sands of time and inspire other musicians to take a leaf out of his book. His rare insights into ragas and his literary brilliance are manifested in his compositions in abundance. In fact, his compositions showcase a beautiful blend of literary virtuosity and high standard of musicality.
I am extremely delighted and proud to have been chosen to write the foreword for his second book, comprising of 108 compositions for release in February 2024 at Chennai. I have also had the rare privilege of listening to some of the compositions featured in this book in the ragas Paavani, Hamsavasantham, Neelamani, Bagesri and Tillana in Varamu in his own melodious and soulful voice replete with swaraaksharams, chittaswaram and swara sahityam and other decorative angas with all accompaniments played digitally – All by himself using a MIDI Keyboard & requisite plug-ins creating pure Carnatic Music background for every song of his.
I hope that this book will be a motivation for musicians to render his exceptional compositions so that they get a wider reach and recognition for such compositions and for him as a contemporary composer to reckon with, among several music connoisseurs. I wish Krishnamoorthy all success in this venture as a multi~tasking vocalist and in his forthcoming publications.
Smt.RADHA NAMBOODIRI
Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee
Principal – Shanmukha Sangeet Vidyalaya
Admin Deptts ( Retd.) @ A.I.R. & Doordarshan
- Sangita Kala Acharya award from Music Academy, Madras at their 91st Annual Conference and Concerts on 1st January, 2018.
- Dr. M.S.Subbulakshmi Sangeetha Pracharya by Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai on 16th September 2018.
- Conferred with the prestigious award of She was also honoured by the Fine Arts Society, Chembur at their Guru Vandana function on 9th December, 2018
- Acharya Navaratna – a unique award was conferred on her by Padma Bhushan awardee, Sangita Kala Nidhi Dr. T.V. Gopalakrishnan,
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2021 for her contribution to Carnatic Vocal Music by Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
REMINISCING about Vidwan Sri P.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY:
A VERSATILE MUSICIAN
by T.K.Sankaranarayanan , BARC Scientist
Hon Secretary Bhakta Rasika Ranjani Sabha,Anushaktinagar ,Mumbai
It is not easy to pen few lines on a versatile, multi-faceted musician like Vidwan Sri P.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY whom I shall refer to as “Moorthy” in this article. Another great and versatile musician Sri TVG told me when he confronted the President of Music Academy Chennai why he was not considered for the coveted Sangeetha Kalanidhi title the president said TVG being a versatile musician on what count they can bestow the title Pat came TVG reply please consider me as an accomplished musician
The same applies to Sri Moorthy the only son of renowned Nurani late Sri.P.K.Subramania Bhagavathar (affectionately known as Chuppamani Mama ), who had trained me in Carnatic music lessons. Visiting Sir’s residence became a weekend ritual, and had observed the talent in Moorthy, as a young lad of 4 years without formal guidance of a guru, singing small bhajans, playing Harmonium, drumming Mridangam, thus imbibing the essence of Fine Arts purely on his own instinctive initiative, proving he was a born prodigy.
1st Prize Winner in Harmonium
His mastery of harmonium is known to many in Mumbai winning 1st Prize in All India Radio competiton in 1983 that paved way for Sabha Concerts highlighting Harmonium Flute and Piano solo concerts in many Sabhas including our own Bhakta Rasika Ranjani Sabha. In fact, our inaugural Youth Talent promotion Concert was his Harmonium concert, that brought to the fore the unimaginable “gamaka prayogas” in an instrument with straight key notes.
NAMASANKEERTHANAM ~ HIS FORTE
While late Chuppamani sir was well known as a Popular Bhajan singer and Divynaamam exponent, his son Murthy has excelled in this ancient art form also. Endowed with a god given sweet voice he enthralled many devotees both in India & abroad with his bhajan songs some of which were his own compositions. His full-fledged Carnatic music concert on PNK Memorial Day marked his penchant for excellent manodharmam & kalapramanam commencing with his own Ata Taala VarNam on the lines of Viriboni – in praise of Goddess Shringeri Sharadamba. After hearing him that day, I commented that he would have scaled heights in Carnatic music as a vocalist par excellence, had he lived in the capital of Carnatic music : Chennai.
MOORTHY’s INCARNATION AS A VAAGGEYAKARA
His latest foray into composing Sahitya (lyrics) and Sangeetha has put him in the forefront of many contemporary Composers winning him laurels and accolades. All this could be achieved by him is due to the fact that he has the right genes being born into a musical family.
All his Live concerts are affectionately supported by his wife (disciple of Madurai T N Seshagopalan & Neela Ramgopal ) and his daughter Keerthana following the music tradition set by my Chuppamani Sir.
THEATRICAL PRESENTATIONS.
Not satisfied with the activities in full swing, Moorthy wrote The Script, Dialogues , Directed and Acted essaying the roles of “Mahakavi” Sri Subramania Bharathi & “Sangeetha Pitaamaha” Sri. Purandaradasa – both with Carnatic music orientation, staged in Mumbai and Southern cities to packed halls, appreciated by one and all.
A RARE PHENOMENON
On a personal note, Moorthy is such a unique personality, the like of which, I have never encountered in my five-decade-old experience as a Sabha nayaka in a small Sabha in Mumbai, more so because, he has completed the full circle touching upon the finest aspects of IYAL (Literature) ISAI ( Music ) and NATAKAM ( Theatre ), that too quite naturally. Sri Moorthy, is an ever-shining star in Mumbai’s Classical Music firmament and I personally and also at the behest of BRRSabha , hereby through this medium wish him GOOD HEALTH , WEALTH & HAPPINESS TO CONTINUE SERVING THE CAUSE OF OUR COUNTRY’S PRIDE HERITAGE : CLASSICAL MUSIC.
by T.K.Sankaranarayanan ,
BARC Scientist ( Retired )
Hon Secretary BRR Sabha,
Anushaktinagar ,Mumbai
My heartfelt tribute to my Guru, Shri Murthy Sir
I just finished listening to all three of your latest creations on SoundCloud — and I’m simply spellbound. Each song is a masterpiece — Thulasidala in a fresh, enchanting avatar; Sarvam Brahmamayam in soothing Chandrjyoti; and Karunakaraa Narayana in serene Thilang — all woven with such depth, devotion, and divine calm.
The orchestration is exquisite — every instrument seems to breathe in rhythm with the composition, adding peace and grace without ever cluttering the flow. The chorus is seamless and beautifully complementary — it truly feels like a well-bonded ensemble that has poured heart and soul into perfect harmony.
Listening to these is a therapeutic experience — one feels elevated, cleansed, and at peace. These are not just songs; they are experiences of divinity through music.
Murthy Sir, you are not just the composer, singer, and instrumentalist — you are the soul behind this creative universe. Your music transcends boundaries and touches something sacred within. I’m sure many youngsters will soon be caught up in this beautiful MurthyMania!
Waiting eagerly for more such gems, Sir. You have truly created magic.
With admiration and reverence,
Dr. Chandra Viswanathan
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