Gopalakrishana Bharati

Question 1

Who’s Gopalakrishna Bharathiar’s dad, where was he born, when, where did he live and who did he learn Carnatic and Hindustani music from?

Answer 1

• Sivarama Bharathiar
• Narimanam village near Nagapattinam
• 1810
• Mudikondan, Anaitadandavapuram +Mayuram
• Carnatic music –> Ghanam Krishna Ayyar
• Hindustani music –> Ramadas

Question 2

Who did Bharathiar go to after this, who introduced him to this man, what is their relation and how was this man significant?

Answer 2

• Vadanayakam Pillai
• Introduced by Meenakshisundaram Pillai
• His friend
• Allowed him to stay in his own house
• Encouraged him to complete famous Tamil opera ‘Nandanar Charitra Keerthanai’

Question 3

Why did Bharathiar suffer a lot composing opera ‘Nadanar Charitra Keertanai’?

Answer 3

Composition was based on low caste person (one of 63 Saivite saints) so people made him suffer as a result

Question 4

Describe one famous opera gifted by Bharathiar and how it showed him to be a ‘Dramatic genius’:

Answer 4

• Nadanar Charitram
• Inspiration: Nandanar, a Harijan Saint, visited Thirupungur where Nandi, which was blocking the entrance, moved to one side and allowed him to have darshan from the Lingam outside the temple
• Used familiar ragas + rare ones eg. Dvijavanti, Manji, Sengalam
• Used musical forms eg. Dandakam, Chindu, Nondichindu, Kanni, Kummi, Anandakalippu, Irusolalankaram
• Used Marathi musical forms eg. Katka, Savai, Lavani
• flowing character of music, vigour of verse, way audience draws sympathy towards Nadanar, abandoned use of various musical forms

Question 5

Which recital of Nadanar Charitram heard by who caused the printing of the work in what year?

Answer 5

• Recital at Karaikkal
• Heard by French collector Seesay who arranged for printing of the work in 1861

Question 6

Who highly praised the work, popularised the opera through their Kalkshebams and increased the popularity through their singing and acting?

Answer 6

• Praised the work: Ramalinga Adigal, Vedanayakam Pillai, Meenkshisundaram Pillai, Arumuga Navalar, Ananta Bharathi Ayyangar
• Popularised the opera: Thanjavur Krishna Bhagavatar, Chidambaram Srirangachariar
• Increased popularity: S.G. Kittappa, K.B. Sundarambal, M.M. Dandapani Desikar

Question 7

What other operas did he compose and what is he the author of?

Answer 7

Operas:
- Iyarpagai Nayanar Charitram
- Ammaiyar Charitram
- Thiruneelakanda Nayanar Charitram
Author of:
- Gnanachindu, Gnanakummi, Chidambarakanni, Mami Natakam, Viduthi Keertanaigal

Question 8

What is the total number of Bharathiar’s songs, operas + Viduthi keerthanaigal and Kannis?

Answer 8

• Songs: Over a thousand
• Operas: 426
• Viduthi keerthanaigal and Kannis: 180

Question 9

When did Bharathiar die and how old was he?

Answer 9

• 1896
• 86