Tanjavur R. Ramamoorthy (தஞ்சாவூர் ர.ராமமூர்த்தி) (15 June 1929 - 22 June 2019) was a vidwan in Indian classical music, playing Carnatic music on the mridangam, an ancient Indian percussion instrument. The mridangam is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble, and in the Dhrupad genre, where it is known as a pakhawaj.
Early life and training
Ramamoorthy was born to a famous violinist, R. Rathinam Pillai and Krishnammal.
In 1938 he entered into gurukulavasam under Brahmarshi Biravam Pillai at the age of 9 and was trained under "Thanjavur style". His miruthangam arangetram was held in 1941. His guru allowed him to participate in Kacheries / programmes with mirudhangam accompaniment. During those times Brahmarshi Biravam Pillai brought him to the famous miruthangha vidwan Brahmarshi Vaidyanatha Iyer of Thanjavur and requested to allow him to enter into his Gurukulam (school) where he was trained further in the "Thanjavur Style". Thanjavur R. Ramamoorthy, Palghat Mani Iyer, T. K. Moorthy are the notable disciples of Vaidyanatha Iyer. Vaidyanatha Iyer was staying at Trivandrum while joining his school, hence he learnt developments in miruthangam at Trivandram under him and he was directed to participate some Kacheries / programmes and he participated in AIR programmes once in three months.
From 1943 he had chain of programmes and every Kachery/music programme will have mridhangam accompaniment of Palghat Mani Iyer (Padma Bhusan Awardee -1971), Palani Subramaniam Pillai and himself. All the top artists of the time liked and requested his mridhangam accompaniment in their programmes by considering him with Genius Palghat Mani Iyer and Palani Subramania Pillai. While this being his career outside Brahmarshi G. D. Sastri, the then station director of All India Radio Trichy, requested him in writing to join as artist of AIR and he has joined All India Radio, Trichy as per the directions of his gurunathar.
Honours
On 26 January 1980, Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataga Mandram conferred the title "Kalaimamani" with gold medal by the then Tamil Nadu Honorable Governor Sadiq Ali and Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran. On 19 June 1983 the Karaikudi Tamil Isai Sangam conferred a title "Isai Kadal". From 1983 to 1985 he served as an examination committee member at Annamalai University, Chidambaram for awarding the Sangeetha Bhusan Degree. On 16 May 1989, All India Radio Trichy honored him to receive the Golden Jubilee edition during its Golden Jubilee celebrations in the capacity of Senior Artist. During 1989 he has been categorized under Grade-I Artist as the first man in All India Radio Service on the verge of retirement. On one occasion Rotary Club of Trichy honored his service in All India Radio. In 1990 the Madurai Mahadeva Asthami Committee honored him for his 50 years of service to the Music field and special handling of Mridhangam. On 1 April 1994, the Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust Chennai honored him as Senior Artist. On 9 February 1997, Muthamil Peravai of Chennai conferred a title "Miruthangha Selvam" by Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. M. Karunanidhi with a Gold Medal. Trichy District Nalla Nidhi Committee has awarded "Kalai Peroli" (title on 8.6.2001) under the Presidency of District Collector V. Moorthy. On 31 January 2002, Shri Sathguru Thiagabramma Trust & Shri Sathguru Sabha conferred on him a title "Laya Vathya Rathnam" with Gold Medal. A recognition of the long service in the Carnatic Music held at Tiruppur during the Palani Subramania Pillai Memorial Music Function held during 22.11.2002 to 24.11.2002. On 3 December 2014, he received the title "Vaadhya Padmam" conferred by the Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai during the inauguration of its December Art Festival 2014. On 28 January 2018 he was presented with the TCM Lifetime Achievement Award during the sixth annual day celebrations of Trichy Carnatic Musicians (TCM), a group of young musicians of the city.
Career in All India Radio (AIR) He was appointed Artist of All India Radio by the British Government on 5 September 1945. He served under British Government up to 1947, and 42 years in Indian Government as a mridhangam artist. In 1946 he accompanied vocal programmes of the great vidwans Papanasam Sivan, Thiruvaduthurai T. N. Rajarathinam Pillai. Subsequently, All India Radio preferred a method of categorising the artists in various grades through a panel committee in 1950. He has been chosen into the "A" Grade Artist by the first panel committee.