Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan on what makes Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar a versatile composer

A musical tribute to composer Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar

It was a journey down memory lane at Nadasurabhi Cultural Association in Bengaluru as it was the 75th birth anniversary celebration of the versatile musician Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan. During this event, the organisation honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in a grand and fitting manner.

Harini Raghavan, the secretary of Nadasurabhi, reminisced about the organisation’s three-decade-long association with TNS. She highlighted their history of arranging concerts, hosting him, and engaging in conversations solely centered on music, occasionally with witty references to food.

Some of the senior artistes who have accompanied Seshagopalan also recalled their association with the veteran artiste. Octogenarian mridangam vidwan A.V. Anand spoke about TNS’s on-stage spontaneity and shared his experiences of accompanying him on various occasions. Violinist H.K. Venkatram recounted his experience on how for the first time he substituted for the artiste who was to accompany Seshagopalan at a Ramanavami concert in Bangalore.

Vocalist Gayathri Girish, a disciple of T.N. Seshagopalan, shared her insights about both learning directly from him and through listening to his concerts.

Ramesh Swamy of Unnati Foundation recalled Seshagopalan’s impromptu Nayaki raga essay for the kriti ‘Ranganayakam’ at one of his earlier concerts at the Andavan Ashram, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, that had a lasting impact.

Dr. M.R.V. Prasad, physician and president of the Bangalore Gayana Samaja, spoke about Seshagoplan’s unwavering devotion to music, highlighting his proficiency in playing veena, keyboard, and harmonium, and how the veteran musician shared his musical knowledge with the audience at a week-long music conference held in Bengaluru in 2005.

He also fondly remembered when TNS was honoured with the Sangeeta KalaRatna by Bangalore Gayana Samaja in 2005 and hispresidingover a week-long music conference, enlightening the audience with his wisdom.