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Articles on Alathur Brothers

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The Alathur Brothers, Srinivasa Iyer and Sivasubramania Iyer, belong to that genre. They set a unique standard as a vocal duo as well as in evolving a style of their own enshrining within it the quintessence of tradition, learning and mano dharma.

It may not be known to many that they were not real brothers. Sivasubramania Iyer, the younger of the two, born on June 28, 1916 was the son of Alathur Venkateswara Iyer who belonged to the Thyagaraja Sishya Parampara. One of the prime disciples of Thyagaraja was Manambuchavadi Venkatasubba Iyer.His disciple was violin vidwan Thiruvaiyaru Krishna Iyer whose disciple was Alathur Venkateswara Iyer.

Sri Subba Iyer's intial education was at Tiruchi where Venkateswara Iyer resided. One Sankara Srowthigal from Angarai brought his son Srinivasan to Alathur Venkateswara Iyer and asked him to accept him as his disciple. Thus both Sri Srinivasa Iyer and Sivasubramania Iyer started learning from Venkateswara Iyer. They were made known as Alathur Brothers by Pudukottai Dakshinamurthi Pillai, which description remained. Srinivasa Iyer was born on January 24, 1912.

Apart from the traditional learning, the Guru encouraged them to hear music from other senior vidwans of which particular mention should be made of Malaikottai Govindaswamy Pillai who was residing near Venkateswara Iyer's house.It is this grounding which enabled the Brothers to participate in the Thyaga Brahma Utsavam as early as in 1928 when Sivasubramania Iyer was only 12 years old and his senior brother was 16 years old. This may be treated as their debut. Their accomplishment was noticed by important vidwans who invited them to participate in festivals conducted by them. In the early stages Venkateswara Iyer himself provided harmonium accompaniment to them. Pudukottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai provided the percussion accompaniment for quite some time.

The Brothers' entry into Madras was also in 1928 and that too in the Mylapore Academy. They were later taken to the Mysore Durbar where their musicianship was acknowledged by very senior vidwans such as Bidaram Krishnappa, Veena Subbanna, Seshanna and Muthiah Bhagavatar. By this time Venkateswara Iyer withdrew the accompaniment on harmonium and Mayavaram Govindaraja Pilla started accompanying them on the violin. Simultaneously Pazhani Subramania Pillai started accompanying them on the mridangam. Thus the stage was set for the Brothers to have first-rate accompanists, which was an encouragement as well as a challenge to them. Alathur Venkateswara Iyer and the Ariakudi brothers as also percussion artistes like Dakshinamurthy Pillai, gave them a good grounding in laya and enabled them, even from their very early years, to embark on complicated pallavis. Alathur Brothers were noted for their pallavai and laya vinyasam without marring the aesthetics. At one stage Kumbakonam Rajamanickkam Pillai and advocate C. K. Venkatanarasimhan introduced Palghat Mani Iyer as mridangest for their concert. This combination continued for a long time.

The Brothers entry into the music world was at a time when there was a galaxy of vidwans in the field. It was to their credit in this environment, they carved a niche for themselves. In 1944 the brothers were recognised as the Asthana vidwans of Travancore State.

Even though they were not brothers, each one regarded the other with great affection. When their turn came for being awarded the title of Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Sivasubramania Iyer who was the younger of the two suggested that it should go to Srinivasa Iyer first. Srinivasa Iyer thought t hat his Guru's son should get the award first. Sivasubramania Iyer was selected in the lot and given the title in the 1964. Srinivasa Iyer was given the title in 1965 but Sivasubramania Iyer was not then alive to see his ``music brother'' getting the title.

Srinivasa Iyer got the Sangit Nataka Akademi Award in 1968. He passed away in 1980. He was the son-in-law of Valadi Krishna Iyer.