ARUNA SAIRAM

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

 

 

 

 ARUNA SAIRAM

Date of birth - 30 October 1952

 

Born on October 30, 1952 in Mumbai into a South Indian Tamil musical family, Vidhushi Aruna Sairam is a legendary vocalist in Carnatic, Indian Classical, Hindustani, Bhajan, and film playback singing. She can also play the stringed mesmerizing musical instrument, Veena.

 

Her voice and renditions intertwined as they are in a masterful, rich, and embellished beautiful blend of modulations, intonations, resonance, and timbre, are inimitable and nonpareil - honey to ears and delight to mind.

 

Motivated and inspired from childhood by her parents, she got initiated into music by her mother Rajalakshmi, ably backed up and supported by her father Sethuraman, who was a music connoisseur himself.

 

Tracing the humble beginning of her music journey: As a girl of 8 years, she won a Gold medal at the Shanmukhananda Sabha Competitions in Bombay (now Mumbai). Aged 14, she performed her first full-fledged and full-length solo concert at the Rama Navami festival, Bhajan Samaj in Mumbai. At 21, she won the Best Young Musician Award at the annual conference held at the famed Music Academy, Chennai. From then on, Aruna came to get noticed as a serious musician of great stuff and promise and went on to render performances throughout the country. Thereupon, there was no turn back.

 

Her Guru Sangeeta Kalanithi Brinda bequeathed a rare repertoire of compositions of South India’s Divine Music Trinity Saint-Composers - Sri Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Shyama Shastri - and enabled her foray into the vocal music world. Aruna perfected her singing learning from other vocal music giants too, continuously and consistently making waves as an acclaimed vocalist and as steady as a clock. Her scaling new heights in the music world was phenomenal.

 

Her status is as pretty and pride as a peacock, as bright as the sunlight, as dainty and exquisite as a flower, and her voice as easy as the air, especially mountain winds, instantaneous and spontaneous flow as the breeze, rich as the dawn, spotless as unfallen snow. Even if you start praising her in right earnest, you will end up falling far short of words and also of what she really is and deserves!

 

She escalated her voice and music performances from the local environs to international forums and thus became world-famous as an accomplished singer of international repute. Her repertoire includes varying classical, semi-classical, and folk music forms and genres of several languages that caused ripples in the music world and across the globe. Even foreign stalwarts had praised her.

 

International fame greeted her on many occasions. Wrote the Los Angeles Times, 2006/2007 thus - “Her passion and probing intensity is reminiscent of the penetration, exploratory improvisation of John Coltrane… We lived a moment of dazzling musical joy… She seemed to have a nomadic hunger for all kinds of relief - sharp peak or deep abysses.”

 

The Outlook Magazine wrote in 2008, “MS Subbulakshmi is no more. But if there is any singer who comes close to matching such purity of voice, diction, impeccable Sruti alignment, and frill-free singing, it is Aruna Sairam.”

 

London Evening Standard (2011) commented thus - Hail a New Queen of Soul - The mesmerizing star of this concert at the Royal Albert Hall was South Indian singer Aruna Sairam! She is a soul singer up there with Aretha Franklin. I was trying, and failing, to think of a classical singer with the same status and artistry - Jesse Norman, Cecilia Bartoli? I’m afraid not. Aruna Sairam has the universal power to take you to another world.”

 

To date, Aruna has to her credit over 50 records. Her recordings span classical repertoires, thematic presentations, concert recordings, and collaborations with German, French, Moroccan, and other international artists.

 

Awards and accomplishments:

 

• Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy, Chennai (2006)
• The "Isai Selvam" by the Government of Tamil Nadu, 2006
• Sangita Choodamani by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha Chennai, 2006
• Gaana Padmam by Brahma Gana Sabha, 2008
• U.S. Congress Proclamation Award (2008)
• Padma Shri – Government of India - (2009)
• Sake of Honour Award by Rotary Club of Ambattur 2011
• Shri P. Obul Reddy and Smt. P. Gnanambal Award 2012
• Indira Sivasailam Endowment Award, 2012
• Sangita Kala Nipuna by Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Chennai, 2012
• Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Award by Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Memorial Trust Chennai, 2013
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Government of India (2014)
• Sangeetha Kalasarathy (2014).
• Arsha Kala Bhushanam Award by Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Coimbatore, 2014
• Isai Mani Magudam Award by Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Chennai, 2015
• Elected as Vice-Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (2015)
• Recipient of the Tamil Nadu Government’s Kalaimamani Award. (2018)
• Sangita Kalanidhi (2018)
• Kalidas Samman Award of Government of Madhya Pradesh. (2020)
• Conferred Appreciation by the Mayor of the City of New York and the City of San Diego.

 

The most invaluable jewel/gem in her Crown of accolades is the French Government’s highest honour - Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Award - conferred on her on November 5, 2022. She was given this glory not just for her singing prowess, but also for her continuous contributions toward the development of India-France relations.

In a recent interview, she said, "As a musician, it is my duty to entertain and make people happy; there lies my happiness too." Well said Aruna Madam!

 

 

(R.SAMPATH)

10/7/2023