T. K. Radhakrishnan

Sri T K Radhakrishnan (1919-2003) - renowned Carnatic Classical Flutist and Musician was born in the year 1919.He had his basic exposure in music from his maternal grand father SRI.T.A. KRISHNA BHAGAVATHAR. His talent in Flute was honed by Sangita Kalanidhi Palladam Sanjeeva Rao. His father Late Sree T. G. Krishna Iyer, well known as "Lalitha Dasar" has composed many songs and slokas on various deities with the Mudra "Sree Lalitha". Many of these compositions are set to tune by Sri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. His brother, (late ) Sree T. K. Ramachandran, was one of the leading violin Vidwans who accompanied Sri.Chembai in many concerts. He was fortunate to accompany Chembai in his last concert.

At age 10, T. K. Radhakrishnan performed in the presence of the Maharaja of Mysore SRI.KRISHNARAJA UDAYAR and the Maharaja awarded him with medals. Indian history records that T.K. Radhakrishnan, had given a flute recital programme on the eve of Independence on the farewell party for its last viceroy Lord Mountbatten .

His music is always noted for its traditional gayaki style of playing the flute, that was greatly appreciated for its grammatical correctness and etiquette.

As an ‘A’ grade artist of All India Radio, he had given a number of concerts from the time it was known as the Corporation Radio. He had given programmes in Doordarshan, and other National Programme of music and in Sangeetha Sammelans throughout the country. He had a glittering array of names as accompanists on the Violin including Mysore T.Chowdiah, Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai, Mayavaram Govindaraja Pillai, Pappa Venkatramiah and M.S.Gopalakrishnan. On the mridangam front, the vidwans included Palghat Mani Iyer C.S.Mrigaboopathy ,Palani Subramaniam Pillai , Guruvayoor Dorai and T. V. Gopalakrishnan.

Sri.T.K. Radhakrishnan and T. Chowdiah had performed many "eka raga" kutcheries together, where a particular raga would be played throughout the concert elucidating a different mood of the raga in tandem with the Kriti selected, the choice from the Rasikas would be SriSubramanyaaya namasthe in Kamboji. This brought out the multi-faceted imagination of the musician who can play the same scale of notes with distinctive difference and bhava. He is also known for his repertoire of kritis of various composers.

His disciples included Sri T A Hariharan and Sri A V Unnikrishnan who are well known musicians and flautists. A.V. Unnikrishnan was a member of the troupe of the renounced dancer Sudharani Raghupathy.

He had been honoured with the Kalaimamani award by the Tamil Nadu Government, by the then Governor Prabhudas Patwari and Chief Minister Sri.M.G. Ramachandran .

On Nov 24 th 2003, T.K. Radhakrishnan passed away leaving behind his immortal music. A programme was held in his memory by India International centre and Gayathri Fine Arts at India International Centre, New Delhi. G. Raghu Ram gave a flute recital awards were presented to the budding flutists on the occasion.

His grand son Shankar Ramarathnam, the torch bearer of the linage is a western drummer.

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