Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar

Carnatic vocalist Vinjamuri Varadaraja lyengar established himself early on in his life and stayed as a favourite of those rasika-s who preferred to listen to serious music in the traditional mould. He was an all-rounder, proficient in all aspects of concert music. Although he did not capture the imagination of the denizens of Carnatica as did Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G.N. Balasuhramaniam and Madurai Mani Iyer, he commanded respect like his guru Tiger Varadachariar did and knew how to please the listeners without compromising quality, like his manaseeka guru Ariyakudi Ramanuja lyengar did.

The music he offered was traditional, in the sense he did not transgress the canons of ctassicaf music, hut it was never staid or dreary; it was fired by his manodharma, his creative imagination. Its appeal lay also in the bhava or emotion it carried. He had a sturdy voice that added weight to his music, as did his knowledge and understanding of art music.