Sirkazhi Govindarajan

Sirkazhi Govindarajan (19 January 1933 – 24 March 1988) was a Carnatic vocalist and a playback singer of Indian cinema, predominantly in Tamil cinema. He was conferred the Padma Shri award by the Government of India.

Early life Govindarajan, was born on 19 January 1933 at Sirkazhi (a small town in present-day Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu; famed birthplace of Sambandar, one of the 63 Nayanars of the Saiva faith) to Siva Chidambaram and Avayambal Ammal. At the age of eight, Govindarajan began to perform at the Tirupurasundari Temple on the occasion of the Gnana Paal Festival.

Musical education He graduated from the Tamil Isai College in Chennai (Madras) in 1949 with the degree 'Isaimani'. He also graduated with the Degree of 'Sangeetha Vidwan'. At the same time, he started rigorous training (Gurukulavasam) under his Guru Thiruppampuram Swaminatha Pillai, who was then a professor at the Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras. Under his tutelage and in-depth study, he gained knowledge of the nuances and intricacies of Indian Music, especially, Classical Carnatic Music. During this period (1951–1952) he won many competitions, conducted by the Sangeetha Vidwat Sabha (Music Academy) and the Rasika Ranjani Sabha.

Collaboration

Music composers S. V. Venkataraman, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, S. Rajeswara Rao, S. Dakshinamurthi, V. Dakshinamoorthy, G. Ramanathan, C. N. Pandurangam, Master Venu, K. V. Mahadevan, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, G. Devarajan, B. Narasimma Rao, A. Rama Rao, T. Chalapathi Rao, T. G. Lingappa, P. Adinarayana Rao, T. R. Pappa, Ghantasala, Vedha, G. K. Venkatesh, M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, V. Kumar, A. M. Rajah, C. Ramachandra, Ilaiyaraaja, and Shankar–Ganesh, Baburaj

Playback singers He has sung with other male singers such as M. S. Viswanathan, T. M. Soundararajan, Ghantasala, P. B. Sreenivas, S. C. Krishnan, Tiruchi Loganathan, A. L. Raghavan, K. J. Yesudas and S. V. Ponnusamy.

He also sang duets with many female singer such as M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, K. Jamuna Rani, Jikki, P. Susheela, K. Rani, L. R. Eswari, L. R. Anjali, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathinmala, T. V. Rathnam, Bangalore A. R. Ramani Ammal, Vani Jairam, S. Janaki, M. R. Vijaya, Sarala and Rohini.

He sang duets with singing actors such as N. S. Krishnan, T. R. Mahalingam, P. Bhanumathi, S. Varalakshmi and Manorama.

Filmography Year Movie Role 1967 Kandhan Karunai Nakkeerar 1969 Vaa Raja Vaa Police Officer 1970 Thirumalai Thenkumari Bhagavathar shivachidambaram 1972 Agathiyar Agathiyar 1972 Dheivam Cameo Appearance 1973 Rajaraja Cholan Nambiyandar Nambi 1975 Thiruvarul Cameo Appearance 1976 Dasavatharam Naradhar 1982 Thaai Mookaambikai Cameo Appearance

Discography

Govindarajan had sung for many leading actors like M. G. Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan, N. T. Rama Rao, S. S. Rajendran, and R. Muthuraman.

Awards and honours He was the recipient of three gold medals (first place) in the austere and hallowed halls of Sangeetha Vidwat Sabha (Music Academy) from Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer. "Sangeetha Vidwan" Sirkali won all first places in the three categories: Apoorva Krithis of Sri Thyagaraja swamigal, Ragam-Thalam-Pallavi, and Tamil Classical Songs. Madras University conferred a doctorate (Honoris Causa) on him in 1983.

Source:

ISAI MANI: 1949 – Degree from Tamil Isai College, Madras SANGEETHA VIDWAN: 1951 – Degree from Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras ISAI ARASU: 1968 – Kunrakudi Adheenam, Kunrakudi kumari' Best Male Playback Singer: 1971 – for songs of Thirumalai Thenkumari ISAI KADAL: 1972 – Bharathi Youth Association, Madras INNISAI ARASU: 1974 – Tamil Nadu Nalvazhi Nilayam, Madras DHARUMAPURA ADHEENA ISAI PULAVAR: 1974 – Adheena Vidwan of Dharumapura Adheenam appointed by Sri Guru Maha Sannidhaanam KALAI MAMANI: 1975 – Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram (State Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award) INNISAI VENDHAN: 1976 – Kandan Arts Academy, Madras SANGEETHA BHASKARA: 1977 – Sri Shantananda Swami, Sri Bhuvaneswari Adhishtanam, Pudukkottai ISAI THILAKAM: 1977 – Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha ISAI GNANA BHOOPATHI: 1978 – Brittania Hindu Shiva Temple Trust, London EZHISAI VENDHAR AND GANAMRITHA VARITHI: 1978 – During Sri Lanka tours PERISAIMANI: 1979 – Sangeetha Abhivrithi Sabha, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia IRAI ISAI VENDHAI: 1979 – Seshasayee Paper Mill Temple, Erode MIYAN TANSEN AWARD: 1980 – Delhi Drupad Sangam, New Delhi Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award: 1980 Tamil Isai Mannar: 1981 – New York Tamil Sangam, New York Gandharva Geetha Vithakar: 1981 – Ramalingar Pani Manram, Paris, France Di Singenden Hersen Von Indien: 1981 – Yoga Center (Germans), Düsseldorf, West Germany Tamil Nadu Arasavai Kalaignar: 1981 – At the Bharathiyar Centenary Celebrations Isai Perarignar: 1982 – Annual music festival honor from Tamil Isai Sangam, Madras Padma Shri: 1983 ISAI THENDRAL: 1984 – Thyagaraja Swami Aradhana Committee, Tirutani INNISAIMANI: 1985 – Guru Gnana Sambandar Iraipani Manram GAMBEERA GANA ISAI VENDHAN: 1985 – Arya Vaisya Schools, Madurai ARUL ISAI ARIGNAR: 1987 – Mauritius Education and Cultural Tour TAMIL ISAIPERARIGNAR: 1987 – Tamil Sangam, Bangalore MUTHAMIZH KALAI MAMANI: 1987 – Tamil Sangam, Salem ISAIMAMANNAR: 1987 – Bharathidasan Centenary celebrations by Dravidar Kazhagam, Madras ISAIPERARUVI: 1987 – Siddhi Vinayakar Temple, Paris, France CULTURAL AMBASSADOR: 1987 – Frei Platz Axion-World Peace Conference in Switzerland

Personal life Govindarajan was married to Sulochana from Omalur, Tamil Nadu. Their son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer and a Medical Doctor.

Death Govindarajan died on 24 March 1988 in Madras (now Chennai) due to a massive heart attack. He was aged 55.