20 Facts About Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist and music composer.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was born on 2 March 1935 and was trained by his father, Ramaswamy Sastry.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan's father, sang and played a variety of instruments such as Flute, Jalatharangam and Veena.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was known for his dexterity and subtlety in handling the violin, he catered not only to the music scholar but to the layman.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan's play reflected his own different moods and the demands of his audience with whom he established and enjoyed a good rapport.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan dwelled with ease and competence in the high as well as the low octaves.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan stopped accompanying vocal artistes in 1976 to concentrate more on solo concerts.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was famous for his fingering techniques on the violin.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan made a significant contribution to Tamil devotional music.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan made a special appearance in the 2005 Tamil movie Anniyan directed by Shankar, on the Tyagaraja Aradhana festival sequence for the song Iyengaaru Veetu which is a recreation of the real festival.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan tried his hand at film production with a feature film in Tamil Thodi Ragam, with T N Seshagopalan in the lead, which failed to enthuse the audience.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was awarded the prestigious "Padma Shri" title by the Indian government, Kalaimamani award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1993, and the Karnataka Isaignani award.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan has won Best Music Director awards for his background scores for films.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan received the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award given by "The Indian Fine Arts Society" in 1996.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for the film Thirumalai Thenkumari in 1970 and the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - Raja Sando Award in 2000.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, had a long association with the All India Radio.

An able administrator, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan served as Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan served as president of the Raga Research Centre.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan died of a heart attack on September 8,2008 at the age of 73 at Porur Ramachandra Hospital, Chennai.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was survived by his wife, four sons and one daughter.