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Shanmugampillai - triumphant in mirudangam

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

K Shanmugampillai (93) passed away in Colombo. He belonged to a family of great musicians who have excelled in carnatic music, mirudangam and various other art and culture.

Shanmugampillai was born in Inuvil on 21.7.1917 in an orthodox and conservative family which was greatly involved in the development and promotion of Hindu culture, Tamil and religion.

His father, the late Kandasamy was a veteran carnatic musician from Inuvil.

Shanmugampillai learnt carnatic music from his father. When Shanmugampillai was a student, great musicians from India used to visit Ceylon to perform music recitals.As he was very much touched by their carnatic music and wanted to play mirudangam at their recitals.

Further, there was a famous temple called ‘Arul Migu Kandasamy Kovil’ in Inuvil where every Friday they used to conduct music recitals, bhajans and devotional songs. For this music recitals Shanmugampillai used to play mirudangam and thereby he had become a matured and well trained musician and mirudangam player.

Since the late Shanmugampillai learnt the art of mirudangam performance with meticulous care and thoroughness he wanted to go to India to enhance and enrich his knowledge in carnatic music particularly mirudangam.

In India, he had an intensive and extensive training under one Mirudangam Vidvan Sivavadivel who was from Kuttalam in South India.

After completing 2 years training under Sivavadivel; he came under benign influence of international musicians like Musiri Subramania Iyar, Madurai Mani Aiyar, Ms Ariyakutti Ramanujam Iyankar and Madwai Mani Iyar.

On completion of training in India for nearly two years (i.e.) from 1938 to 1940, he returned to Ceylon and participated in all the and won the admiration and recognition of music lovers in Jaffna.

In 1942, the veteran flute musician Vidvan R. Moorthy Iyar wanted Shanmugampillai to perform music recital at ‘Colombo Radio’ which was then called. He came along with him to Colombo. During that period one S. Sivapathasundaram, who is a graduate and Chief Editor of ‘Eelakesari’ was in charge of ‘Colombo Radio’ (Tamil section).

In appreciation and recognition of Shanmugampillai’s extraordinary talent, Sivapathasundaram requested Shanmugampillai to stay in Colombo permanently. As he could not turn down his generous request, he agreed to stay in Colombo and continued to perform mirudangam for all the music recitals conducted in Colombo Radio.

In 1952, Shanmugampillai was promoted as ‘super grade’ Mirudanga Vidvan. In 1950 this establishment which was called as ‘Colombo Radio’ was renamed as ‘Radio Ceylon’. In 1967, this was made as a Corporation.

In fact, Mirudanga Vidvan Shanmugampillai was a much sought after mirudangam players not only in Sri Lanka but even in other countries. Besides, he had participated in programs organized by the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Further Shanmugampillai was presented with ‘Lyavaruthy’, ‘Kalamanya’, ‘Kalabhooshanam’ and Honorary Doctorate by the Colombo Kamban Kalagam headed by ‘Kamlavaruthy’ E. Jeyaraj.

Shanmugampillai’s elder daughter ‘Kalabhooshanam’ Piraktha Thillai Nadarajah is a veteran dance teacher, his son Visvanathan was Director (Tamil service) in the Rupavahini Corporation (retired) and presently working in a prestigious organisation, ‘Kalasuri’ Vasugy Jegatheeswaran is a veteran dance teacher of international repute, his younger son Jeganathan is working in Canada.

Undoubtedly, the late Shanmugampillai was a humanist with deep faith in the spirit of humanism. Everyone irrespective of race, religion and caste were impressed by his broadoutlook and mellowed wisdom.

He never harboured a grievance nor grudge. His sincerity and steadfastness to friends, relations, neighbours should serve as objective lessons for all in this world where changing loyalties and shifting attitudes are the order of the day.

May his Soul rest in peace.