 T.T.
Krishnamachari Auditorium -
The Music Academy, Madras
New No. 168 (Old No. 306), T.T.K. Road,
Chennai - 600 014
Phone : +91-44-2811 2231 / +91-44-2811 5162
Fax : +91-44-4235 9362
In
1946 “Sweet Home” in Mowbrays Road was acquired by the Music Academy.
Honourable Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India laid the
foundation for the present auditorium on 5-10-1955. Seven years later,
on the eve of the 36th Conference H.H. Maharaja Sri Jayachamaraja
Wodeyar, Governor of Madras, declared the new building open. Such a
major milestone was achieved by the Academy, largely due to the
sustained interest and dynamic initiative of Late Sri Kasturi Srinivasan,
and Sri T.T. Krishnamachari.
Thanks to the generosity of Shri G.D. Birla, M/s Reliance Group of
Bombay and Sri Vijay Kirloskar, air-conditioning of the auditorium has
been made possible.
Subsequently renovation of seats in the main-mini auditorium was taken
up with donations from M/s Nalli Chinnaswamy Trust, M/s Ashok Leyland
and THE HINDU.
A generous grant by ICICI in 1998 helped towards the cost of erection of
two lifts in the Academy.
The renovation of the interior of the
T.T. Krishnamachari Auditorium (Main Hall) which was envisaged earlier,
was carried out in 2000. This project was carried out, thanks mainly to
the liberal assistance from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India,
Indian Oil Corporation and Sundaram Finance, Chennai Petroleum
Corporation and Mrs Rohini Shankar.
Academy's Infrastructure
and Grateful Acknowledment to Donors
The Executive Committee has identified
priority areas for modernization and upgradation. Donors have been
extremely generous and spontaneous in the cause of this great
institution.
Our Grateful thanks are due to: Mr. Venu Srinivasan through his company
TVS Motors Ltd, for his handsome donation of Rs.20 lakhs towards
replacement of seats at Ground Floor; Mr.Suresh Krishna through his
company Sundram Fasteners Ltd., for his donation of Rs.5 lakhs; in both
these cases we have received the first half of their total donation and
the balance is expected in the coming weeks; Mr. C. Sivasankaran of
Sterling Group in the name of his father Mr. R.Chinnakannan for his
donation of Rs.25 lakhs; Mr. R. Srinivasan of Redington India and his
son Mr. Ashok Srinivasan for a new Bose Acoustics System at a cost of
Rs.31 lakhs; Mr. A.Sivasailam and Mrs.Indira Sivasailam in the name of "Sivasailam
Charities" for a donation of Rs.20 lakhs for the digitization,
development and use of our valuable archives and The Hindu for a
donation of Rs.25 lakhs. Further, substantial donations have been
indicated by HCL Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services.
The
Kasturi Srinivasan
The Kasturi Srinivasan
Building constructed in 1982, houses an auditorium, library, committee
room and recording rooms.
The installation of a lift at the Kasturi Srinivasan Hall, a long felt
need of senior citizens and physically disabled persons, which was
commissioned during December 2000, has been welcomed by all.
The Kasturi Srinivasan
Building constructed in 1982, houses an auditorium, library, committee
room and recording rooms.
The installation of a lift at the Kasturi Srinivasan Hall, a long felt
need of senior citizens and physically disabled persons, which was
commissioned during December 2000, has been welcomed by all.
Dr. V. Raghavan
Research Centre
The above centre, which perpetuates the
memory of the renowned scholar Dr. V. Raghavan, who was the Secretary
for over 4 decades and the Editor of the Journal of the Music Academy
(19351979) and other publications, continues its valuable work in the
sphere of musical research. Some of the earlier publications are now out
of print. In the last decade, the research centre has undertaken the
publication of the ragas of the Sangita Saramruta, written by King
Tulaja in two parts -the first one edited by Sangita Kalanidhi T.V.
Subba Rao dealing with 48 ragas and the second one by Dr. S.R.
Janakiraman with 61 ragas
.
Lakshana Gitas -a selection of 27 Gitams selected from regular texts as
well as new compositions to form the foundation course for beginners
1994, and Raga Lakshnas in 3 volumes by Professor S.R. Janakiraman which
covers 150-200 ragas (1995, 96, 97) are some of the important
publications of the Academy.
In 1998, Dr. V. Raghavan Research Centre received a handsome donation
from Sri R. Kalidas, son of late Dr. V. Raghavan and member of the
Academy, towards research and publication activity of the Music Academy.
A grant was given by the Sangeet Natak Academy for the publication
titled Thanjai Nalvar Isai (unpublished repertoire of the
Tanjore Quartette) edited by Natyacharya Isai Perarignar Thanjavur K.P.
Kittappa Pillai, direct descendant of the Quartette, was published
during 1998.
The reprinting of the book on Javalis by Sangita Kalanidhi T. Brinda was
undertaken from a donation received from Smt. Sarada Chandrasekhar, an
old student of The Teachers College of Music.
Dr. Prema Krishnaswami has given a donation for research and
publications. The publication titled Professor Sambamoorthy - The
visionary Musicologist by Brahma was released during the centenary
celebrations of Sangita Kalanidhi Prof. P. Sambamoorthy. A grant was
received from Department of Culture, Govt. of India for this
publication.
K R. Sundaram Iyer
Memorial Library
The Academy maintains a library which
is gradually growing with the acquisition of new books apart from
preservation of rare books and manuscripts. The library is being used by
students and research scholars not only in Chennai but also from
neighboring states and abroad. Membership is open to all, with payment
of annual or on daily usage fees.
In 2001, a collection of over 1000 rare books and manuscripts on Music,
Sanskrit, Dance and Harikatha was received for the library from the
family of Harikatha Exponent Sangita Kalanidhi Embar Sri S.
Vijayaraghavachariar.
The modernization of the library was carried out through a donation made
in 1991 by late S. Viswanathan, a former Vice-President.
The archives section of the library has tapes donated by the families of
Sri S. Natarajan, Sri G. Narasimhan, Sri P. Obul Reddy and by Smt. Padma
Narasimhan .The feasibility of digitizing our archives and library is
under consideration.
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