CHENNAI: Renowned flautist N Ramani was felicitated here on Sunday in his 70th year of musical career. The felicitation was organised by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. Mohan Parasaran, additional solicitor general of India, presided over the event and Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, president of the sabha, welcomed the gathering. Mohan Parasaran, who traced the long and successful musical career of Ramani in his address, said the flutist was matchless and unparalleled in his mastery of the Carnatic flute. “I have seen this myself. Even foreigners are enchanted by his extraordinary skills. No doubt, his knowledge and research has embellished the carnatic flute.”Y Prabhu, general secretary of the sabha, said Ramani began his formal training at the tender age of five under his grandfather Azhiyur Narayanaswamy Iyer. “Naryanaswamy’s guru was Gottuvaadhyam Sakarama Rao, who comes under the guru-sishya parampara of Saint Thyagaraja.” Stating that Ramani’s arangetram happened at the Sikkil Singaravelan temple in 1942 at the age of eight, Prabhu noted that the humble event marked the start of a long and happy journey that touched unscaled heights in music. Ramani’s guru was flute maestro TR Mahalingam aka flute Mali and he performed his first concert at the Music Academy in 1956. “He is a recipient of more than 80 titles and awards beginning with a honour from legendary musician Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu in 1962.”Cleveland VV Sundaram, co-founder of the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana fest, USA, was among others who felicitated Ramani. Violin maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman had sent his congratulatory message on the occasion. A cash award of `25,000, a citation and a memento were presented to Ramani. The felicitation was followed by a concert by Ramani with M Chandrasekaran, Tiruvarur Bakthavatsalam and N Amrit.
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