During the mid 20th century there were a few brilliant Carnatic Music vidhwans who also were best film actors in the Tamil Film Industry. To name a popular few, I am able to readily recall the promient M.K Thyagaraja Bagavathar, GNB, M.S. Subbulakshmi, and M M Dhandapani Desikar . The last named artiste cum Vidhwan MMD was born on 27.8. 1908 and lived for 64 years. . He was not only a Carnatic Vocalist but a good actor and composer of krithis. We will be silently paying our great respects and homage to the great artiste on his 115th birth day on 27th August this year.
M M Dandapani Desikar was born in Thiruchenkaatangudi a very famous place because it was there that one of the sixty three Saiva saints, Nayanmars, Siruthonda Nayanar was born. Desikar made his debut at Tirumarugal, noted for its Saivite shrine and for its brilliant nagaswaram maestro Natesan. His intial teacher was his father Muthiah Desikar, from whom he learnt, Thevaram, Thiruvachakam, and Thirupugazh. He belonged to Odhuvar community who recited devotional songs at temples and his father was able to teach him the traditional new all the ”pannisai’ tunes and songs. Desikar was a student of the carnatic music doyen, Kumbakonam Rajamanickam pillai for some time.
1940 was in the thick of Thamizh isai renaisance when Desikar contributed a lot to its progress because he was a multi-talented composer in Thamizh music, a great musician, composer, teacher and a talented movie actor.
He was teacher for 10 years a teacher at the Okkur Lakshmanan Chettiar Thevara Patasala and a Professor and Head of the Department of Music, Annamalai University for fifteen years. He published the works of Bharati, several Tevarams, Divya Prabandhams and Tiruppugazhs in a book entitled Isai Tamizh Paamalai. This book also includes his compositions which reveal his command over music and the language. He published quite a few Thamizh music works under the auspices of Thamizh isai Sangam.
He gave many concerts in Chenbnai and other places in Tamilnadu including at Annamalai University. Desikar received several awards which include,
‘Pandisai Pulavar Kone’, ‘Thevara Mani’, ‘Sangita Sahitya Siromani’, ‘Tirumurai Kalanidhi’, ‘Thandaka Vendhu’, ‘Pannisai Vendhan’, ‘Isai Pulavar’, ‘Kalaimamani’ ‘Isai Perarignar’ from the Tamil Isai Sangam/’Sangita Natak Academy Award’.
MM Dhandapani Desikar acted in quite a few films which are popular and are liked for its music even today To name a few, let me recollect Pattinaththaar, Nandanaar, Thaayumaanavar, Maanickavaacagar, and Tirumazhisai Azhvaar, In all these early Tamil films he was the singing hero.
Some other popular songs of M M Dandapani Desikar are even sung in many vocal performances.
unnaiyanri utra thuna… (bhavAni),
velanai (AndOLikA),
anjezhuttinai nenjile ( Raga vinOdini),
Anai mugathone ( Devamanohari ),
isaiyin ellaiyai (subhapantuvarALi),
Adiyenai kaaathu arulvai angayarkkanni – kamboji raga.
Arula vendum thaaye angayarkkanni niye – Sarfamati raga.
Inba kanavonru kanden – in ragamalika.
Panniru kai velavane pazhanimalai- Hamsanandi
Thamarai pootha thadagamadi – Hindustanigandhari
His songs in the film Nandanar composed by the great saint poet Gopalakrishna Bharathi were hits and remembered even today.
Desikar lived at T.Nagar and passed away on 29.6.1973.
–nanganallur J K Sivan
