MD Ramanathan - Born in an orthodox Tamil brahmin family in Manjapra, a small village in Kerala State, Shri. M. D. Ramanathan (1923 – 1984) belonged to a family of musicians. His father, Devesa Bhagavathar, was a vocalist. MDR's tutelage started from his father and extended to one of the greatest music legends of the time, Shri. Tiger Varadarachariar, a third-generation direct disciple of Saint Tyagaraja. After MDR graduated in Physics from Victoria College Palghat, he joined the Sangeetha Shiromani music course in Kalakshetra, Madras. MDR later worked as teacher, professor, and principal at Kalakshetra. He made several performances across India including Madras Music Academy and Thiruvananthapuram Navaratri Mandapam. MDR's accompanists on violin and mridangam were renowned legends including Sangeetha Kalanidhi recipients. MDR was determined to know the meaning of each kriti and the mood of the vaggeyekara during its creation (Kavi Hrudaya) before learning each kriti. He was a polyglot with the ability to handle Tamil, Sanskrit, English, Telugu, and Malayalam with ease. MDR himself was a vaggeyakara and composed kritis, thillanas, varnams, etc., totaling around 300. MDR had very high regard for his guru, and because of that he chose his mudra "Varada Dasa" in his compositions. He led a simple life and devoted his entire life to music. MDR developed a unique style and stood out from other musicians through his baritone voice, slow tempo, rich bhava, and spontaneity. He chose tempos to match with the music and excelled in medium (Madhyama kalam), and fast (Drutha kalam) tempos as well. Among contemporary artists MDR was regarded as a "Musicians' Musician." Among the accolades he received were Padmashri, Sangeetha Kalasigamani, and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy awards.

Source: Contributed by Ravi Madappattu

Mudra: Varada dAsa

Compositions:

1. dhIm dhIm dhIm (t) - kApi
   
2. dhIm nAdhru dhIm (t) - kApi
   
3. enna kuTram seidAnO - husEni
   
4. gajavadanA mAm pAhi - hamsadhvani
   
5. gurucaraNam - kannaDa
   
6. hariyum haranum - aThANA
   
7. janani nAtajana - shankarAbharaNa
   
8. manamE rAmanai - sindhubhairavi
   
9. manasA shrI rAmuni - rEvagupti/bhUpALa
   
10. mangaLa caraNE - hindOLa
    
11. mAyamma shubhamimma - ranjani
    
12. nA drija nA drija nA drija (t) - hindOLa
    
13. nAdhru dhImta dhira (t) - shankarAbharaNa
    
14. nadridhIm dhIm (t) - kAnaDA
    
15. nAdridri dhImta (t) - kadanakutUhala
    
16. nAma kIrtanamE gati - bilahari
    
17. nandagopa yashOda - kApi
    
18. nIvale daivamu - yadukulakAmbhOji
    
19. nIvanti daivamu - kApi
    
20. pAdayugamunu - janaranjani
    
21. paripAhimAm pUrNatrayEsha - bilahari
    
22. pUrNatrayEsha pAhimAm - pUrNacandrikA
    
23. rAma rAma rAma rAma - nIlAmbari
    
24. sAgara shayana - bAgeshrI
    
25. sAmi ninnE kOriyunnadirA (tv) - ranjani
    
26. sarasvati sarasavANi - khamAs
    
27. shrI cAmuNDEshvari - bilahari
    
28. subrahmaNyam bhajarE - hindOLa
    
29. tyAgarAja gurum - kEdAra
    
30. vElavanE umakku - shahAnA
    
31. vighna rAja - shrIranjani