Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer

Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer (Tamil: முடிகொண்டான் வெங்கடராம ஐயர்; 15 October 1897 – 13 September 1975) was a South Indian Carnatic music singer and musicologist. He was also known as Mudikondan (sometimes spelt Mudicondan) - the name of his native village.

Background Venkatarama Iyer was born in Mudikondan, a small village in the Nannilam taluk of Tiruvarur district in Tamil Nadu, India to parents Chakrapani Iyer and Kamakshi. His father was a singer of Hindu religious hymns while his maternal grandfather Srivanchiyam Swaminatha Iyer rendered padams and javalis with lilt that earned him the pet name 'talukku' Swaminatha Iyer.

Education Mudikondan's father wanted him to learn English, so he went to college in Chennai (then called Madras) after school. However, his father died, which forced him to leave college and return to his village. He then decided to receive formal training in Carnatic music. He furthered his education with help from Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer. He learned tala and laya from a 'Tavil Vidwan' known as Ammachatram Kandaswami Pillai. Simizhi Sundaram Iyer taught him the bhava aspect.

According to The Hindu, his lecture and demonstrations at the annual conferences of the Music Academy were well-attended by scholars, students, and professionals. In 1952 he gave a presentation of a Pallavi in Simhanandana Tala that made waves (128 aksharas). Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1961 by Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, 1971 by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai

Death After a short illness, Mudicondan died on 13 September 1975 in Chennai. He was 77.