T. Brinda - Profile

T.BRINDA (VOCALIST & VAINIKA)......................(b.November 5, 1912)

Grand daughter of the legendary vainika, Dhanammal and daughter of Kamakshi Ammal, Brinda was bred in the evergreen nursery of vibrant classicism in Carnatic music. Imbibed the Dhanam tradition of melody from Dhannammal herself and her daughters. She is the eloquent inheritor of its grace and charm. This view finds support from the fact that the institution 'Sampradaya' arranged for a six months special training course at madras on Dhanam Classical tradition to be handled by T.Brinda and T.Viswanathan, a scion of the same nursery. She had absorbed enough music at home to elaborate ragas when at the age of nine she entered on gurukulavasa under Kanchipuram Naina Pillai. Mukta, her younger sister accompanied. But 'actually Brinda learnt directly from the maestro ad Mukta kept the sruti (harmonium). Mukta says': Grandmother Dhanammal was none too pleased at our being sent to Naina Pillai as if no music was available at home. Further Dhanammal's music was like honeyfall, soft and sweet and she wanted our music to be soft and feminine. She disliked women indulging in swara fireworks and feared that it would happen if we learnt music under Pillai.'

Brinda made her debut with Mukta as support at the Tyagaraja Festival, Kanchipuram which was celebrated annually by Naina Pillai. Though Mukta did not undergo the rigorous training, she had assimilated enough by constantly hearing the master and his ward (Brinda) and the Brinda-Mukta combine was a prominent duo for four decades, till Brinda's daughter and vocalist Vegavauhini joined to sing with Brinda. Thus Brinda has over seventy years solid credit as a performing artiste of merit. She enjoys a vast repertoire of kritis, padas and javalis and several claim to have studied under her though some of the claims might not conform to fact, it is said.

For exquisite rendition of padams, Brinda has a name and for the Music Academy, Madras, she brought out a publication of javalis in 1965 but she feels that several performing artistes do not adhere to the proper paddhati. Semmangudi Dr. Srinivasa Ayyar states that when Ariyakudi Ramanuja Ayyangar and he heard Brnda once, the former said, 'When women sing padams, it is melifluous; See, how beautifully Brinda has handled them!' Ayyar could not stop with the joy of hearing. At the suggestion of the Maharani of Travancore, he learnt in three days three javalis and three padams from Brinda! (Three is Ayyar's lucky number perhaps!) Here is another tribute from another veteran. R.Vedavalli who states that her guru Mudicondan Venkatarama Ayyar used to tell his disciples, 'See, how Brinda keeps her voice sweet inspite of advancing age. You should take a lesson from her.' These tributes to Brinda's musical expertise and acumen find relection in the titles and honours conferred on her.

Titles & Honours:
Sangit Natak Academy Award - 1965
Sangita Kalanidhi from Music Academy, Madras - 1977
Sangita Sikhamani from Indian Fine Arts
Society Swaralaya Pushkaram by Pushkaram - 1992

Posts held:
Professor, Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras (1951-70)
Visiting Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, USA - Two Terms
Visiting Professor, California University, USA - Two months

Brinda has given concerts in USA and she was not interested in giving discs. She has been training many in Veena also