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N. Rajam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dr N. Rajam
Born1938 (age 87–88)
Chennai, India
Occupationviolinist
Awards
Musical career
GenresCarnatic Hindustani classical music
Instrumentviolin
Websitenrajam.com

Narayana Rajam (born 1938) is an Indian violinist who performs Hindustani classical music. She remained professor of music at Banaras Hindu University, eventually became head of the department and the dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts of the university. Rajam received the prestigious titles of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan (2026), India's second highest Civil Honour from the Government of India.

She was awarded the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.

Early life and training

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N. Rajam was born in Chennai in 1938 in a musical family. Her father, Vidwan A. Narayana Iyer was a well-known exponent of Carnatic music.[1] Her brother, T. N. Krishnan, was a prominent violinist of the Carnatic style. Rajam started her initial training in Carnatic music under her father. She also trained under Musiri Subramania Iyer, and learned raga development from vocalist Omkarnath Thakur.

Rajam received the prestigious titles of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India.

Personal life

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N. Rajam is married to T. S. Subramanian, a chartered accountant and a former executive of Life Insurance Corporation of India. Her mother in law Mrs. Padma Swaminathan, social activist and Carnatic music singer, was the last surviving daughter of F. G. Natesa Iyer[2][3] Mrs. Vani Jairam, playback singer in South Indian cinema, is her sister in law.

Performing career

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Under the guidance of her father, Narayana Iyer, Rajam developed the Gayaki Ang (vocal style). Rajam has performed across the globe and in numerous places throughout India.

Rajam was a professor of music at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in the Faculty of Performing Arts for nearly 40 years. She has been the chair of the department and the dean of the college at BHU.

Students

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She trained her daughter Sangeeta Shankar, her granddaughters Ragini Shankar and Nandini Shankar, her niece Kala Ramnath, Pranav Kumar, Prof. V. Balaji (B.H.U.) and Dr. Satya Prakash Mohanty

Awards

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Discography

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  • Violin Dynasty (Raga Bageshri)
  • Dr. (Mrs. ) N. Rajam (violin recital)
  • A Duet On Strings[9]

References

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  1. ↑ "Entertainment News: Latest Bollywood & Hollywood News, Today's Entertainment News Headlines".[dead link]
  2. ↑ "Coimbatore: Fans, family celebrate Padma Swaminathan's hundred and first birthday". Deccan Chronicle. 9 December 2017. featured her famous musician daughter-in-law Dr N Rajam, her daughter Sangeetha Shankar, and her grandchildren Ragini Shankar and Nandini Shankar giving a brilliant violin concert accompanied by Kedar Kharaton on table. That was followed by another world famous musician Vani Jairam, another daughter-in-law, rendering two compositions.
  3. ↑ "Padma Swaminathan's 100th birthday". srutimag.blogspot.com. Sruthi Magazine. 15 May 2018. The two-day celebration of Padma Swaminathan's 100th birthday on 1 December at Brindavan Hill, Coimbatore was attended by her family including (L to R): Nandini Shankar (great granddaughter), Shankar Devraj (Sangita's husband), T.S. Jairam (son) and Vani Jairam, Padma Swaminathan, N. Rajam and T.S. Subramanian (son), Sangita Shankar (granddaughter) and Ragini Shankar (great granddaughter). It was followed by a violin concert by N. Rajam (daughter-in-law) with Sangita, Nandini and Ragini accompanied by Kedar Kharaton (tabla). Vocalist Vani Jairam (daughter-in-law) rendered a few compositions.
  4. ↑ "SNA: List of Akademi Awardees Instrumental (Sarangi)". Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  6. ↑ "Briefly". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 March 2004. Archived from the original on 9 May 2007.
  7. ↑ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Awards 2012" (PDF). Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Classical Artists in the 2026 Padma Honours List". Indian Classical Network. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Album – A Duet On Strings on Itunes". iTunes. Mumbai, India.
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