Radha Vishwanathan

🪔 About

Radha Vishwanathan (born December 11, 1934, in Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, India; died January 2, 2018, in Bengaluru, India) was a distinguished Indian classical vocalist and dancer. She was the eldest daughter of freedom fighter and journalist T. Sadasivam and his first wife, Apithakuchambal, and the stepdaughter of the legendary Carnatic vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi. Vishwanathan began her artistic journey at a very young age, appearing as a singing and dancing child in films like "Shakuntala" (1940) and "Meera" (1945). She received formal training in Bharatanatyam under the renowned guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiyah Pillai, making her arangetram (debut) in 1945 at the age of 11, alongside Kalki's daughter Anandhi. Her performances were considered part of the Bharatanatyam genre's renaissance. However, in her early twenties, Vishwanathan transitioned from Bharatanatyam to focus exclusively on Carnatic vocal music, following her father's injunction to support her stepmother. She became a lifelong musical accompanist to M.S. Subbulakshmi for over six decades, performing publicly with her from the age of four. Her vocal training included learning from masters such as Mayavaram Krishna Iyer, T.R. Balu, and her stepmother, while also absorbing influences from Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Musiri Subramania Iyer. She contributed her voice to iconic recordings, including the Vishnu Sahasranamam and Venkatesa Suprabhatam. In the 1970s, she also established herself as an independent vocalist through solo performances on All India Radio. In her later years, Vishwanathan moved to Bengaluru, where she dedicated herself to teaching Carnatic music, imparting nearly 700 compositions to her granddaughters. She battled tuberculosis for 36 years from 1982, continuing to teach until shortly before her death from pneumonia at age 83. Awards & Honours: Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), MS Centenary Award (2015), Sangeetha Ratna (2008), Kala Chandrika (2010), Kalaimamani Award, Recognition from the Madras Music Academy for her lifetime dedication to Carnatic tradition.