D. K. Pattammal

Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal (19 March 1919 – 16 July 2009), popularly known as D. K. Pattammal or DKP, was an Indian Carnatic musician and a playback singer for film songs in Tamil. Pattammal, along with her contemporaries M. S. Subbulakshmi and M. L. Vasanthakumari, are popularly referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic Music. This trio initiated the entry of women into mainstream Carnatic Music. She has been appreciated all over the world by Carnatic music lovers.

Early life and background Pattammal was born in a Brahmin family in Kancheepuram of Tamil Nadu, India. She was named Alamelu, but fondly called "Patta" as a child prodigy. Her father, Damal Krishnaswamy Dikshithar, who was deeply interested in music, inspired her to learn Carnatic music. Her mother, Kanthimathi (Rajammal), although a talented singer herself, was not permitted to sing even for friends or relatives in line with strict orthodox tradition. She initially received tuition from an unnamed Telugu-speaking musician, whom she called "Telugu vadyar" or "Telugu teacher", She later learnt music from her mother, some disciples of C Subramanya Pillai (popularly known as Naina Pillai), as well as Rajalakshmi, daughter of Veena Dhanammal. and key phrases of ragas. Naina Pillai would host Thyagaraja Utsavams (festivals dedicated to Tyagaraja) in Kancheepuram every year, she was considered as an authority on Muthuswami Dikshitar's compositions, She learnt authentic versions of these compositions from Ambi Dikshitar, a descendant of Muthuswami Dikshitar, as well as Justice T. L. Venkatrama Iyer, an authority on Dikshithar's compositions. She went on to popularise these compositions of Papanasam Sivan, as well as those of Subramania Bharathiyar, A scene, towards the end of the film, showed a group of freedom fighters marching in a procession, carrying the Indian National Congress party flag, with "Desa Sevai Seyya Vaareer" being sung by Pattammal in the background. The song, written by Kalki (R. Krishnamurthy) and tuned by Papanasam Sivan, highlighted the Freedom Movement and invited people to join.

Disciples Pattammal's style of singing attracted many students, foremost among them her younger brother D. K. Jayaraman, who sang with her in several concerts, and who himself received the Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1990. A few of her other popular students include her daughter-in-law Lalitha Sivakumar, Sushila Raman, grand daughter Gayathri SundaraRaman, Geetha Rajashekar, her granddaughter Nithyasree Mahadevan, her great-granddaughter Lavanya Sundararaman, Aishwarya Srinivas and her Malaysian, Chinese student/adopted grandson Chong Chiu Sen (Sai Madhana Mohan Kumar) from Malaysia.

Death Pattammal died of natural causes in Chennai on 16 July 2009 at 1:30 pm. She was survived by her two sons I. Sivakumar and I. Lakshmankumar,

Year Honour Honouring bestowed or presented by Ref "Gana Saraswathi" (title) Tiger Varadachariar "Sangeetha Samragni" (title) Bharath Kalachar Aparajitha Award BHEL Ladies Welfare Society, Bhopal "Isai Arasi" (title) Madras Citizens Felicitations Committee, Writers' Circle Vidwat Sadas Scholar Assembly (Chennai) "Tiruppugazh Mamani" Vadapazhani Tiruppugazh Sabha, Chennai 1957 President's Award Government of India 1960 Deva Gana Sudha Varshini LIFCO Award, Chennai 1961 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi 1970 Sangeetha Kalanidhi Madras Music Academy 1971 Padma Bhushan Government of India 1973 Isai Per Arignar Tamil Isai Sangam 1976 Sangeetha Kala Sagara Visaka Music Academy, Vishakapatnam 1978 Sangeetha Kalashikhamani Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai 1991 Distinguished Service Award Rotary Club of Madras 1992 Gayaka Rathnam Swati Tirunal Sangeetha Sabha, Tiruvanantapuram 1992 Fellow of Sangeet Natak Academi Swati Tirunal Sangeetha Sabha, Tiruvanantapuram 1994 Avinashi Lingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women 1994 Manoranjitham Award Manoranjitham, Coimbatore 1994 Bharathi Award Vanavil Panpattu Mayyam 1994 Sangeetha Rathna T. Chowdiah Memorial National Award, Academy of Music, Bangalore 1995 Sangeetha Rathna Wisdom Star of India Award 1995 Nallisai Nayaki Tamil Nadu Nallisai Mandram 1996 Sangeetha Kala Rathnam Sankara Mutt, Kanchipuram 1996 Rasika Ranjani Sabha Award Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Mylapore, Chennai 1997 Desiya Kuyil Hindu Vidyalaya 1997 Sangeetha Sarva Bhowma Academy of Indian Music and Dance, Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Coimbatore 1997 Sangeetha Samrat Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Coimbatore 1997 Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar Birthday Award Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar Birthday Award 1998 Kala Rathna Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Mylapore Chennai 1998 Stree Rathna Award Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan & Director K Subramaniam Memorial Trust, Chennai 1998 Isai Narkalaignar Sankaradas Swamy Ninaivu Mandram, Chennai 1998 South Indian Cultural Association South Indian Cultural Association 1998 Kalidas Samman Government of Madhya Pradesh 1999 Desiya Isai Arasi Tamil Nadu Nalvazhi Nilayam 1999 Lion Award Lioness Council Lion's Club International 1999 Padma Vibhushan Government of India 1999 Swati Puraskar Kerala Sangeeth Natak Academy, Government of Kerala 2003 Gottu Vadhyam Narayana Iyengar Birth Centinary Award Gottu Vadhyam Narayana Iyengar Birth Centinary Award 2003 Sangeetha Sagara Rathnam Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Coimbatore 2008 Layakala Nipuna Pazhani Subramaniya Pillai Memorial Centinery Award, Percussion Arts' Centre, Bangalore