AMS sir is no more

[GNB_LGJ_PR]

******Forwarding the message I got in a whatsapp group******
Saddened to learn about the sad demise of eminent Indian Carnatic Classical Music VIOLINIST, Vocalist, Musicologist, Author and a Guru from Hyderabad, Vidwan Shri M S AKELLA or Akella Mallikarjuna Sharma (Born 15 June 1938 - Died 20 October 2024), today. Akella Mallikarjuna Sharma was born in Mummidivaram, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. He had his initial Violin training from his father Late Akella Ashwatthanarayana Murthy and later under Shri P.P. Somayajulu. He considered 'Parur' M.S.Gopalakrishnan as his 'Manaseeka' Guru for Violin. Later he learnt the intricacies of traditional Carnatic Vocal Music from the Music veteran ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ Shri Nedunuri Krishna Murthy. He qualified the Elementary, Lower-Grade and Higher-Grade Teacher Training (Violin) examinations in Distinction in the year 1956. He completed his Matriculation and Diploma in Violin from Andhra Pradesh University of Music in the year 1959. He was awarded Technical Teacher’s Certificate for Vocal and Violin in the year 1959.

His close association with Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Shri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy opened new vistas of traditional Carnatic Music. As a Violinist he participated in Radio broadcasts from 1962 as Soloist and Accompanist. He has performed in several reputed Music Organizations all over the country like Music Academy, Madras and many other across India. He has been an accompanist on the Violin for more than 45 years and has accompanied eminent Vidwans like Sangita Kalanidhi Chittoor Subramaniam Pillai, Voleti Venkateshwarulu, Mudikondan Venkatrama Iyer, Ariyalur Krishnan, Dr Sripada Pinakapani, Gopalarathnam, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, Dr M Balamuralikrishna, K.V.Narayanaswamy, D.K.Jayaraman, Maharajapuram Santhanam, V.V.Sadagopan, Tanjavur Kalyanaraman, T.R.Subrahmanyam and many others.

Akella Mallikarjuna Sharma worked for more than two decades as Lecturer in Violin in various Government Colleges of Music and Dance of Andhra Pradesh since 1961. He rendered service as Principal for 12 years and retired in the year 1996. He was the Carnatic Music Paper-setter and Practical-examiner since 1968 for Matriculation, Diploma, B.A., and M.A., music-examinations of Andhra, Sri Venkateshwara, Nagarjuna, Telugu & Delhi Universities. He also toured Singapore as an examiner.

He was 'A’ Grade Artist' in AIR, several of his programs have been broadcast on AIR and Doordarshan respectively. He participated in the Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan Concerts and the National Program of Music, AIR, won him wide acclaim. He has toured the U.K, USA and Canada accompanying Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy. Being Music College Principal, he has toured all the Govt. Music Colleges in the state of Andhra Pradesh for two years conducting Lecture-demonstrations and workshops.

As a Vocalist he gave programs in ‘All India Radio’, Hyderabad for nearly 18 years from 1977 to 1995. He was the member of Selection Committee for the appointments of Staff Artists-Vocal, Veena, Violin and Mridangam- of All India Radio.

He has come up with some of the innovative, easy and effective. He has been training some Vocal and Violin students in the country and abroad. He has been doing free service to the cause of Music by giving Lecture-Demonstrations and holding Work-Shops on the rarest topic, Talaprastara and the easy, effective and innovative methods of Teaching Carnatic Music across India.

He has authored several Books as under:
1. Talaprastara Sagaram (Telugu) -1985
2. Permutative Genius in Talaprastara in Indian Music (English) - 1992
3. Talaprastara Ratnakaram (Telugu) – 2001 (Revised edition of No.1)
4. Indian Genius in Tala Prastara (English) – 2001 (Revised edition of No.2)
5. Tala Prastara of Nisshanka Sharngadeva’s Sangeeta Ratnakara - a critical Interpretation (English) - 2001
6. Sangita Svararaga Sudha (Telugu & English) – a treatise on Svarakalpana and Ragalapana along with a mp3 Audio CDs – 2001
7. Systematisation of Prastara details of Deshi Talas (English) - 2003
8. Sangita Vidyabodhini (Telugu and English) – 2006 (Notated compositions of Certificate and Diploma Examinations)
9. Easy and affective methods in learning Karnataka Music -2007 (Telugu and English)
10. Sangita Vidyalochani (Telugu and English) – 2011
11. Sangita Vidyamodini (Telugu and English) - 2015
12. Gurushishyasamvaadam (Telugu) - Relating to the conversations between the Teacher and the disciple pertaining to different problems in learning our music.

Awards:
Akella Mallikarjun Sharma Received an award of "Best book of fine arts" from the Telugu University in the year 1985 for his book “Talaprastara Ratnakaram (Telugu)”. He also received the TTK Award for the year 2009 from the Music Academy, Chennai in the Year 2010.

The book ‘Talaprastara of Nisshanka Sharngadeva’s Sangeeta Ratnakara – a critical interpretation’ has been written and brought out under the Senior Fellow-ship of the Ministry of HRD between October. 1997 and September,1999

Sharma took pride in being a Teacher, rather than a performing Musician, although he had accompanied on the Violin, almost all top ranking Vidwans.

[Nick H]

Sad to hear this. I'm sure his soul will rest in peace, not only accompanying the music of the spheres, but counting and arranging the stars. His love for music and the permutation of numbers must surely be immortal.

[thanjavooran]

Very Sorry to hear. Ohm shanthi. Pray for his sathgathi.

[aaaaabbbbb]

Sad news to know, about SriAMSgaaru.
May his soul rest in the feet of Talabrahma.
Condolences to his family,and students.
Om Shanti.

[uday_shankar]

Very sad to read this. His passion for and knowledge in music and music pedagogy will be greatly missed. Om Shanti.

[rajeshnat]

Very sad to hear passing away of vidwan Akella garu . He certainly had two distinct persona , there are quite a few recordings especially where he has accompanied musicians where his play usually has a shade of MSG .Lot of vidwans like nedanuri, voleti ,bmk and the one and only TRS (when they were in andhra) , possibly akella garu was their violinist.

Around or Post his retirement as a principal he indeed carved his own distinct style of teaching, he has gone on record to state that he unlearnt all that he learnt and started again . He readily shared and certainly exposing lot of poor and dragging methods of teaching. His taalaprasthara teachings personally is a treasure for many of his students -especially kids rendering jathis and swaras were so meticulous . He used to share few videos then where how his students picked up so fast . Our Vasanthakokilam(is he still active in the forum) helped in pushing his teachings to web.

10 to 15 years back when we used to have a lot of rasikas meet or concerts he indeed came and blessed us . In my eyes he being seated with TRS or MSG where Nageswaran Sir hosted concert and then a bit later where he came to our global meet in RKM school where he spoke in his own distinct style. Did he also attend chitravina ravikiran's home meeting , kind of not sure.

Personally the best memory was he and me talking one on one for a long time in very early days of our meet along with nageswaran sir in nageswaran home prior to the evening meet . Nageswaran Sir goes ga ga with MSG and he was simply not able to explain that with a recording , akella gaaru was explaining why nageswaran is so ga ga with MSG - i was patiently just watching two great fans of violin maestro MSG. He accompanying from chitoor subramania pillai and ending with say nedunuri is his prime accompaniment span.

Om Shanthi akella garu.

[ganesh_mourthy]

It is sad that I am reading this post late and very saddened to hear this

He is very special to me. He was a great musician , polemic and strong advocate of the need for progressive changes in music teaching, which he wore on his sleeve.

He wanted change innovation and progress. He believed the music system was not evolving.

He did not charge money for teaching students . In spite of his age he mastered many computer applications , made his recordings available and he would upload in youtube. All a real pain even for my age.

There are days he would never speak a word of music . He would share worldly experiences ,interlaced with light veined humorous talk. He never minced his words. He had once asked me to play violin before him and I felt jittery. But he encouraged me to play and he said " this is the best you can do with your job in hand" ...He asked me to teach rather.

I have met him a few times in his house in Hyderabad . A couple of times in Chennai. It was all one to one .... All lovely memories.

As far as I recall he is not A , but "A top" artiste of all India radio. Could someone clarify. I can check with his grandson.

I feel heavy at heart ... he was personally a father figure to me and a great musician.

Ganesh Mourthy