Kuzhikkarai Sri Viswalingam is no more

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 30 Jul 2007, 10:31

It is with regret that I inform rasikas that Kuzhikkarai Sri Viswalingam passed away this morning.

He was the scion of a a family steeped in Carnatic music (nadaswaram) for generations. He himself was a vocalist.

Though he did not have a brilliant concert career in India (for a variety of reasons which have nothing to do with his vidwat), he was well appreciated by senior musicians who knew the value of his music.

Among upcoming musicians, Sri Manimaran is his disciple as well as nephew.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 30 Jul 2007, 10:40

the jinx of 2007 continues...

sad that another vidwan is no more!

Heartfelt Condolences.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 30 Jul 2007, 11:01

Sorry to hear this. 2007 is definitely a bad year for Carnatic music.

sangeetarasikan · Post by **sangeetarasikan** » 30 Jul 2007, 16:50

Very sad indeed. I remember his Cleveland concert of last year. What a steady and strong voice he had even then! I was simply floored. Hope his disciples will carry the parampara forward.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 30 Jul 2007, 16:56

very sad news. he is a disciple of tiruvarur namasivayam who is a disciple of TMT. condolences to the bereved fmly .

SSK · Post by **SSK** » 31 Jul 2007, 03:27

I truly aplaud Cleveland Aradhana Festival Committee to recognize such unrecognized vidwans, before it is too late. I also met him at Cleveland in 2006 behind the main auditorium. I never knew him and ofcourse he didn't me either. But I had brief, less than a minute conversation, and I am glad I had the opportunity to thank him for having travelled so far at such an advanced age.
May his soul rest in peace..

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 31 Jul 2007, 05:21

SSK wrote:I truly aplaud Cleveland Aradhana Festival Committee to recognize such unrecognized vidwans, before it is too late. I also met him at Cleveland in 2006 behind the main auditorium. I never knew him and ofcourse he didn't me either. But I had brief, less than a minute conversation, and I am glad I had the opportunity to thank him for having travelled so far at such an advanced age.
May his soul rest in peace..

Brahma Gana Sabha held a function to felicitate him for the recognition he received abroad. The function was well attended by a large number of persons.

We should be thankful to Nalli Chettiar and Brahma Gana Sabha for their efforts.

Sri Viswalingam taught at Annamalai University for a long time and was also an examiner at Madras University. Last year, he accepted a teaching position at Kalakshetra after refusing it several times earlier but unfortunately ill health forced him to retun to his hometown.

It is indeed heartening that there are still a few honest rasikas who cherish old-time values.

When I expressed my appreciation to him after a concert, he simply said, "This music will last. The rest won't." He disn't say, "This music will pay" because clearly it didn't pay to the same extent that popular Carnatic musicians are paid. Bur Sri Viswalingam did not seek popularity; he merely wanted to continue the legacy he had received and hand it over to future generations.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 31 Jul 2007, 18:14

My condolences

rasaali · Post by **rasaali** » 02 Aug 2007, 20:51

Indeed a loss. An unrecognized musician. Like some other fellow rasikas I had the opportunity to hear him and escort him from the hall to the hotel in Cleveland 2006.

His "Saati Leni" (poorvikalyani) was outstanding but it was really his Karpooram Narumo that had the audience really moved. TMK, Trichy Sankaran mama sitting right ahead of me, waiting for their concert were visibly thrilled.

On his side the artiste was also amazed by the reception to his concert.

Violinist Anuroop mentioned in casual conversation that Sri Viswalingam was practising for a couple of hours every day before the concert.

As VV Sundaram said, this is the music that reminds you of the fertile Kaveri delta, green fields and temple bells. Thank God it was left behind for us at least on tape.

Mayhis soul rest in peace.

shwetha.swami · Post by **shwetha.swami** » 03 Aug 2007, 23:51

Vidwan Kuzhikkarai Sri.Viswalingam was my first guru in my years of serious carnatic training.

I owe a lot of my knowledge of carnatic music to him, His passing indeed is a great loss.

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 11 Aug 2007, 10:01

I was fortunate to get my hands on a recording of his concert sometime back. I had no idea who he was then. Even internet searches didn't tell much.

Wonder how many more pass under the radar...

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 15 Aug 2007, 19:28

bala747 wrote:I was fortunate to get my hands on a recording of his concert sometime back. I had no idea who he was then. Even internet searches didn't tell much.

Could you share with us some renditions? I also concede that way too much good talent goes unrecognized.