T. Muktha

2021-11-01T23:53:12Z

2601:646:8981:7460:A8:B11B:83:DEDB: teacher of Dr Ritha Rajan as well

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = T. Muktha
|image =
|caption =
|image_size =
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name =Thanjavur Muktha
|birth_date = 1914
|death_date = {{death year and age|2007|1914}}
|origin = [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
|genre = [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]], [[Indian classical music|Indian classical]]
|occupation = [[Vocalist]]
|instrument = [[vocals]], [[saraswati veena]]
|years_active =
|label =
|website =
}}
'''Thanjavur Muktha''', also spelt '''Mukta''' and often referred as Mukthamma, (1914–2007) was one of the foremost representatives of the [[Veena Dhanammal]] school of [[Carnatic Music]]. She, along with her elder sister [[T. Brinda]], formed one of the first women duo singers in Carnatic Music. <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/mukta-and-her-music/article6401104.ece | title=Mukta and her Music | newspaper=The Hindu | date=11 September 2014 | accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/ms/2002/12/01/stories/2002120100070300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030225073642/http://www.thehindu.com/ms/2002/12/01/stories/2002120100070300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 February 2003 | title=Uncompromising standard | date=1 December 2002 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref>

==Early life==
Mukta's grandmother, the legendary [[Veenai Dhanammal]], and mother Kamakshi were from Devadasi tradition. Kamakshi's companion Soundararaja Iyengar was Mukta's father. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guruguha.org/kvr-part-i/|title = K V Ramachandran : The Man who discovered Sangraha Cudamani – Guruguhaorg}}</ref> Mukta grew up in Dhanammal's extended family.

==Musical Influences==
Muktha had much of her initial training from her mother Kamakshi. This training was in the [[Veena Dhanammal]] style, a style of [[Carnatic Music]] known for its unhurried, alluring movements, as also for its use of intricate [[gamaka (music)|gamaka]]s (graces) in the handling of [[raga]]s (modes). Additionally, Muktha (along with Brinda) trained for a substantial length of time under [[Kanchipuram Naina Pillai]] and his aunt Kanchipuram Dhanakoti Ammal, <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/12car.htm | title=Carnatic vocalist T Muktha dead Carnatic vocalist T Muktha dead | publisher=Rediff | date=12 March 2007 | accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref> whose style of music was marked by agility and robustness in laya (rhythm).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/inclusive-carnatic-music/294733 | title=Inclusive Carnatic Music | publisher=Outlook | work=Chitravina Ravikiran | date=30 June 2015 | accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref> After her training under Naina Pillai, Muktha learnt from her aunt Lakshmiratnam. The legendary [[Veena Dhanammal]], who was Muktha's grandmother, herself taught her some compositions.

Mukta gave her first performance at the age of eight. She used to perform mostly with her elder sister T Brinda in the first half of her long career. After the duo parted, she performed in concerts alone for 34 years. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sruti.com/index.php?route=archives/article_details&artId=123|title=The last bastion of an inimitable tradition}}</ref> She was the last disciple of Veena Dhanammal and her last concert was in Cleveland in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205771200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314215035/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205771200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 March 2007 | title=Musician T. Muktha passes away | date=12 March 2007 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Remembering-T-Mukta-in-Her-Centenary-Year/2014/09/09/article2421096.ece | title=Remembering T Mukta in Her Centenary Year | publisher=[[New Indian Express]] | date=9 September 2014 | accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Mukta was a very generous teacher to several musicians, the most prominent among them being [[Vedavalli]], Dr Ritha Rajan, and [[S. Sowmya]].

Muktha was a recipient of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] awarded in 1972.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sruti.com/download/Brinda%20Mukta.pdf | title=Brinda-Muktha: Bastions of a Glorious Tradition | publisher=www.sruti.com | accessdate=26 August 2015 | pages=31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm | title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) | publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi | accessdate=25 August 2015 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530204253/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm | archivedate=30 May 2015 }}</ref>

Mukta died in Chennai on 11 March 2007 at the age of 92, leaving behind a daughter. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/12car.htm|title = Carnatic vocalist T Muktha dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.columbuscarnaticmusic.org/pdf/brinda-muktha.pdf Columbus Carnatic]

*[http://www.carnatica.net/artiste/tmukta.htm T.Muktha]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muktha, T}}
[[Category:Women Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Tamil Nadu]]

{{india-singer-stub}}
{{carnatic-music-stub}}

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

T. Muktha