The undying legacy of Carnatic vocalist RK Srikantan

The undying legacy of Carnatic vocalist RK Srikantan

It has been 10 years since legendary vocalist RK Srikantan passed away and the upcoming annual music festival and award function helmed by the Vidwan RK Srikantan Trust will shine a light on the milestones of the maestro.

His son and vocalist, Rudrapatnam S Ramakanth, who currently steers the Trust, says, “My father lived up to the age of 94, and was on stage for 83 years. This year marks the 70th anniversary of his first performance at the Music Academy in Chennai in 1954; it has been 30 years since he received the Academy of Music’s T Chowdiah National Award in Bangalore.”

As his student and accompanying musician, Ramakanth says he has observed Srikantan’s diverse skills in the classical genre. “His penchant to teach and demonstrate earned him thousands of students and the ‘Best Teacher Award’ by the Bangalore City Corporation 50 years ago. Since this is a milestone year, students and connoisseurs of his music will cherish what is in store at the event.”

On January 14, 1920, Rudrapatnam Krishna Sastry Srikantan or RKS, was born in Rudrapatnam, a small village on the banks of the Cauvery River in Karnataka’s Hassan district. Srikantan was born into a Sanketi family known for their connection to Carnatic music. 

Rudrapatnam is an ancient musical village that has produced scores of musicians recognised by the erstwhile Mysore Royals. Srikantan’s father, Krishna Sastry, was not only a musician, but also a Harikatha exponent, playwright as well as a Kannada and Sanskrit scholar. His maternal grandfather, and elder brothers were also academicians and accomplished musicians.

Music critic BVK Sastry often said the family could easily have established a choral society or a music ensemble with its members, without bothering to recruit extended family, many of whom were blessed with musical talent.

Even though the radio had not arrived yet in RKS’ childhood hometown in Mysore, music filled the house. Much like his brothers, Srikantan revealed an aptitude for music early on, and they all received lessons from their father. Later, Venkatarama Sastry, Srikantan’s eldest brother, took over as his tutor and following which he relocated to Madras to further his musical education.