Kalyani Varadarajan

Kalyani Varadarajan (8 October 1923 – 28 October 2003), commonly known as Kalyani, was one of Carnatic music's famous twentieth-century composers. She created carnatic compositions in all 72 melakarta ragas, besides scores of janya ragas.

Kalyani Varadarajan playing veena some time during the 1950s

Early life

Kalyani Varadarajan was born to Sriman Nadadoor Ammal Narasimhachariar and Srimati Singarammal.^[1] Her father was a big scholar in Telugu and Sanskrit languages, who served as a teacher, headmaster and finally as an educational inspector, while her mother was a musician. Kalyani had a taste to write and compose songs since a young age, and she underwent vocal and Veena training, first under her mother and later under other able gurus. Thereafter, she learnt to play Violin. She had her debut in Veena performance at the age of 16 in 1942.^[2]

List of Compositions

Serial No.	Composition	Format	Raga	Language	Talam	In Praise of Deity
1	pāhi māṃ śrī	Varnam	śubhapantuvarāli	Sanskrit	Ādi
2	rāja-rājēśwari	Pada Varnam	vācaspati	Sanskrit	Ādi
3	Thom Thomena	Kirtanai	Vasanta	Tamil	Ādi
4	Vāṇi vīṇā-pāṇi	Kirtanai	Revathi	Telugu	Ādi
5	Aparṇā Pārvati	Kirtanai	Nalinakānti	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
6	Mari Mari Hari Nām	Kirtanai	Hamir Kalyāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
7	Abhēstadāyini	Kirtanai	Kēravāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
8	Sri Amruta Phalāmbike	Kirtanai	Chakravākam	Sanskrit	Triputai
9	Kan Kanda Daivam	Kirtanai	Bhūshāvali	Tamil	Ādi
10	Mahāmburasi	Kirtanai	Bilahari	Sanskrit	Ādi
11	Kanikarambutho	Kirtanai	Bhavāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
12	Sri Nārasimham	Kirtanai	Sahānā	Sanskrit	Kanda Chāpu
13	Bhava Kadal	Kirtanai	Bānu Kēravāni	Tamil	Ādi
14	Sri Bhuvaneshwari	Kirtanai	Sivaranjani	Sanskrit	Ādi
15	Kanutchallagā	Kirtanai	Kanakāngi	Telugu	Ādi
16	Shānta Durgā Devi	Kirtanai	Madhukons	Sanskrit	Ādi
17	Nāma Rasa Mānave	Kirtanai	Kharaharapriyā	Sanskrit	Ādi
18	Payorāsi Bale	Kirtanai	Dwijāvanti	Sanskrit	Misra Chāpu
19	Kshamādi Guna	Kirtanai	Lalithā	Sanskrit	Ādi
20	Arnava Suthām	Kirtanai	Begadā	Sanskrit	Ādi
21	Sampath Pradè	Kirtanai	Kalyāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
22	Bhajāmyaham	Kirtanai	Dharmavati	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
23	Vainateya Vāhanam	Kirtanai	Mohanam	Sanskrit	Ādi
24	Ishta Devatha	Kirtanai	Bhūpāĺam	Sanskrit	Ādi
25	Muruga Vā	Kirtanai	Kāmboji	Tamil	Ādi
26	Sri Tulasi Nētimati	Kirtanai	Nētimati	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
27	Sapthagirèsam	Kirtanai	Kānadā	Sanskrit	Ādi
28	Chandikeshwari	Kirtanai	Ābhogi	Sanskrit	Ādi
29	Mahā Balavantā Sri Hanumantā	Kirtanai	Ārabi	Sanskrit	Ādi
30	Sāgarasutam	Kirtanai	Kalyānavasantham	Sanskrit	Ādi
31	Vananidhi Kanyakām	Kirtanai	Manoranjani	Sanskrit	Ādi
32	Sangētha Sâragnyā	Kirtanai	Sāveri	Sanskrit	Kanda Châpu
33	Mahā Venkateshwarā	Kirtanai	Bahudāri	Sanskrit	Ādi
34	Pancha Mukha Māruti	Kirtanai	Behāg	Sanskrit	Ādi
35	Mānidhi Kāntaku	Kirtanai	Kālyani	Sanskrit	Ādi
36	Nannu Brochu Bhāramu	Kirtanai	Nāttai Kuranji	Telugu	Ādi
37	Kanaka Simham	Kirtanai	Kāpi	Sanskrit	Ādi
38	Bhaja Mânasa	Kirtanai	Mukhari	Sanskrit	Ādi
39	Amulya Varade	Kirtanai	Deva Gāndhāri	Sanskrit	Ādi
40	Bāla Tripura Sundari	Kirtanai	Mandāri	Sanskrit	Ādi
41	Amruta Pāname	Kirtanai	Sāranga	Telugu	Ādi
42	Sudhā Sahajām	Kirtanai	Surati	Sanskrit	Ādi
43	Stava Vārdita Vikramà	Kirtanai	Shanmukhapriyā	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
44	Navaratna Vilasa	Kirtanai	Malayamārutham	Sanskrit	Jampai
45	Mahitātma Sevite	Kirtanai	Pantuvarāli	Sanskrit	Jampai
46	Vikasita Pankaja	Kirtanai	Desh	Telugu	Ādi - Tisrai Nadai
47	Shauriyuro Vasini	Kirtanai	Hamsānandi	Sanskrit	Ādi
48	Santoshi Māta	Kirtanai	Madhyamāvati	Telugu	Ādi
49	Raghudvaha Dāsa	Kirtanai	Ānanda Bhairavi	Sanskrit	Ādi
50	Pāmarajana Pālini	Kirtanai	Suddha Bangālā	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
51	Pādodhi Kanyakām	Kirtanai	Darbāri Kānada	Sanskrit	Ādi
52	Chidānandadam Srinivāsam	Kirtanai	Jonpuri	Sanskrit	Ādi
53	Amburuhānanā	Kirtanai	Brindavana Sārang	Sanskrit	Ādi
54	Gānakalā Viduni	Kirtanai	Kedāragoula	Sanskrit	Ādi
55	Nāma Pāname Jèvanamu	Kirtanai	Shankarābharanam	Telugu	Ādi
56	Ambujāsyām Sri Chāmundeshwari	Kirtanai	Kalyāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
57	Sanāthani Sri Sunādavinodini	Kirtanai	Sunādavinodini	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
58	Vandeham Sri Gandhavahasutam	Kirtanai	Pūrvi Kalyāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
59	Vasudevasutām	Kirtanai	Nāsikābhūshini	Sanskrit	Ādi
60	Sri Yuvati Priyam Chintayeham	Kirtanai	Chārukesi	Sanskrit	Ādi
61	Shārade Namaste	Kirtanai	Sāramati	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
62	Saraswati Sugunavati Samasta Vidhyādhipati	Kirtanai	Saraswati	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
63	Vana Nidhi Kanya Varam	Kirtanai	Chandrakons	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
64	Chintayeham	Kirtanai	Ābhogi	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
65	Sari Evvare Shri Mànini	Kirtanai	Kokilapriyā	Sanskrit	Ādi
66	Shwetāmbari Vāni	Kirtanai	Vāchaspati	Sanskrit	Ādi
67	Vārārkaro Bhava	Kirtanai	Pūrvi Kalyāni	Sanskrit	Khanda Jampai
68	Suruchira Rūpini	Kirtanai	Gaurimanohari	Sanskrit	Ādi
69	Krupadātā Nēve	Kirtanai	Malahari	Sanskrit	Ādi
70	Vachanambujamula	Kirtanai	Dharmavati	Sanskrit	Ādi
71	Hariguna Gāname	Kirtanai	Brāmarakusumam	Sanskrit	Ādi
72	Mahimārnava	Kirtanai	Shubhapantuvarāli	Sanskrit	Ādi
73	Mānasa Harināmrutha	Kirtanai	Senjuruti	Sanskrit	Ādi
74	Marugelane	Kirtanai	Bhāgesri	Sanskrit	Ādi
75	Thāmarasa Dhāma	Kirtanai	Hanuma Todi	Sanskrit	Khanda Jampai
76	Haripada Mahimanu	Kirtanai	Rishabhapriyā	Telugu	Adi
77	Amba Ninnu Maruvane	Kirtanai	Rūpavati	Telugu	Rūpakam
78	Sarasijavana Vâsini	Kirtanai	Hamsadhwani	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
79	Vanajāyatha	Kirtanai	Khamās	Sanskrit	Ādi
80	Aghātha Nikudāre	Kirtanai	Kharaharapriyā	Telugu	Rūpakam
81	Sadā Sāradāmbhaām	Kirtanai	Suddha Sāveri	Sanskrit	Ādi
82	Kāminchi Koluchenu	Kirtanai	Rathanāngi	Telugu	Rūpakam
83	Nālgumunula Vāni Kalathri	Kirtanai	Gānamūrti	Telugu	Ādi
84	Vananidhi Sambhave	Kirtanai	Vanaspati	Sanskrit	Khanda Chāpu
85	Mānavathi Apamāna Dānarathe	Kirtanai	Mānavati	Sanskrit	Ādi
86	Bhajāmyaham Ramāsakham	Kirtanai	Tānarūpi	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
87	Nēve Aligithe	Kirtanai	Senāpati	Telugu	Ādi
88	Karunatho Mēyinta	Kirtanai	Hanuma Todi	Telugu	Ādi
89	Nanda Bāla	Kirtanai	Dhenukā	Sanskrit	Ādi
90	Pathuvedam Pūnda Nātakapriyane	Kirtanai	Nātakapriyā	Tamil	Ādi
91	Bhāshavathi Rūpavathi	Kirtanai	Rūpavati	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
92	Gāyakapriye	Kirtanai	Gāyakapriyā	Sanskrit	Ādi
93	Chārukesi Chidambareswari	Kirtanai	Chārukesi	Sanskrit	Ādi
94	Sarasāngi Saraswathi	Kirtanai	Sarasāngi	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
95	Vēna Vādana Tatparam	Kirtanai	Hari Kāmboji	Sanskrit	Ādi
96	Kānalnērai Kandodum	Kirtanai	Shankarābharanam	Tamil	Ādi
97	Nāgānandini Râgamodini	Kirtanai	Nāgānandini	Sanskrit	Ādi
98	Yāgapriya Rāgāna Pādudu	Kirtanai	Yāgapriya	Tamil	Ādi
99	Bangāru Vesikapai	Kirtanai	Rāgavardhini	Telugu	Jhampai
100	Pravimalasu Gunābhirâme	Kirtanai	Gāngeya Bhūshani	Sanskrit	Ādi
101	Vinathasādare Visālākshi	Kirtanai	Gāyakapriyā	Sanskrit	Ādi
102	Marugelane	Kirtanai	Māyāmālavagaulā	Telugu	Ādi
103	Koti Sūryakānthi	Kirtanai	Sūryakāntham	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
104	Hātakāmbari Kaumāri	Kirtanai	Hātakāmbari	Sanskrit	Ādi
105	Jhankāra Sruthi Seyave	Kirtanai	Jhankāradhwani	Tamil	Ādi
106	Ruňametula Thērchukondune	Kirtanai	Nathabhairavi	Telugu	Ādi
107	Soundaryalahari Kēravâni	Kirtanai	Kēravāni	Sanskrit	Ādi
108	Nāmāmrutha Rasika	Kirtanai	Kharaharapriyā	Tamil	Ādi
109	Bhaktasādaranēti Gaurave	Kirtanai	Gaurimanohari	Sanskrit	Ādi
110	Māraranjani Srimani	Kirtanai	Māraranjani	Sanskrit	Ādi
111	Paňdari Yendre Orudaram Sonnāl	Kirtanai	Athāňā	Tamil	Ādi
112	Thandanālatho Poddu Pūrchaleka	Kirtanai	Mohanam	Telugu	Ādi
113	Darsanamuche Pāvanamâiye	Kirtanai	Sindhu Bhairavi	Telugu	Ādi
114	Mahonnathi Nidhe	Kirtanai	Khamās	Sanskrit	Ādi
115	Vāhēkrutha Harya Kshemāĺām	Kirtanai	Bilahari	Sanskrit	Ādi
116	Khanaghangumau Prâňamundaga	Kirtanai	Bindumālini	Telugu	Châpu
117	Sānthivaradhānēm Samsraye	Kirtanai	Varāli	Sanskrit	Ādi
118	Sadānugrahaparām Sâradâm	Kirtanai	Sāranga	Sanskrit	Ādi
119	Kalānilayām Kalaye	Kirtanai	Hindoĺam	Sanskrit	Misra Châpu
120	Magalahārathide Nēku	Kirtanai	Pantuvarāĺi	Telugu	Ādi
121	Yoganrusimha Padāmbuja Brunga	Kirtanai	Vasanthā	Sanskrit	Misra Châpu
122	Nēradhisute Nityānande	Kirtanai	Dhenukā	Sanskrit	Ādi
123	Nidhikāntha Nē Sāti Evvare	Kirtanai	Ranjani	Telugu	Ādi
124	Sri Nrusimha Nāyike	Kirtanai	Shankarābharaňam	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
125	Karuňāmruta Varshini	Kirtanai	Maňi Rangu	Sanskrit	Ādi
126	Sangētam Bhoja	Kirtanai	Shubhapantuvarāli	Sanskrit	Ādi
127	Mātā Pitā Gurudeva	Kirtanai	Gurupriya	Sanskrit	Ādi
128	Navagraha Daivamula	Kirtanai	Ābheri	Telugu	Ādi
129	Hātaka Garbuni	Kirtanai	Saraswati	Telugu	Ādi
130	Sukhi Intuna	Kirtanai	Gāngeya Bhūshani	Telugu	Ādi
131	Sarasijodāru Sakhi	Kirtanai	Hamsadhwani	Telugu	Kanda Châpu
132	Mahā Hema Kesari	Kirtanai	Chāyāsindhu	Telugu	Rūpakam
133	Sanēswaram	Kirtanai	Bhogi	Sanskrit	Rūpakam
134	Sāramati Saraswati	Kirtanai	Sāramati	Sanskrit	Ādi
135	Gatikagya	Kirtanai	Kāmbodhi	Sanskrit	Ādi
136	Kapālēshwaram	Kirtanai	Bouĺi	Sanskrit	Ādi
137	Tândava Priyā	Kirtanai	Valaji	Sanskrit	Ādi
138	Sadā Nē Pādamule	Kirtanai	Aťānā	Telugu	Ādi
139	Suratarūkriya	Kirtanai	Sindhu Bhairavi	Sanskrit	Ādi
140	Hari Guna Gāname	Kirtanai	Madhuvanti	Sanskrit	Ādi
141	Kshānti Vardhani	Kirtanai	Varāĺi	Sanskrit	Ādi
142	Sthiramugā	Kirtanai	Hindoĺam	Sanskrit	Ādi
143	Sarigādhammā	Kirtanai	Jyotiswarūpini	Sanskrit	Ādi
144	Yoga Nrusimha	Kirtanai	Saurāshtram	Sanskrit	Misra Chāpu
145	Sādaramugā Nannu	Kirtanai	Vishwambari	Telugu	Khanda Jampai
146	Sarivārilo Nannu Bhâsvare	Kirtanai	Subhapantuvarāli	Telugu	Ādi
147	Latāngi Sarveshwari Varalakshmi	Kirtanai	Latāngi	Telugu	Ādi
148	Vrushāchalesham Namāmyaham	Kirtanai	Bŗndavani	Sanskrit	Ādi
149	Vananidhi Shubhaga Shyāmalām	Kirtanai	Sārangā	Sanskrit	Ādi
150	Pannagagirēsham Āshraye	Kirtanai	Sahānā	Sanskrit	Ādi
151	Gānamūrti Naǐināytha Nèthri	Kirtanai	Gānamūrthi	Telugu	Ādi
152	Mānavati Asamāna Dānaratha	Kirtanai	Mānavati	Sanskrit	Ādi
153	Sushobhana Phalade Sharade Vidiyuvate	Kirtanai	Nathabhairavi	Sanskrit	Ādi

External links

1. The author of Musical heritage of India notes the superiority of Kalyani Varadarajan's Carnatic compositions and places it on par with great composers in the field^[3]
2. Select Kritis - Vedanta Spiritual Library^[4]
3. Books and CD of Kalyani Varadarajan's Kritis released^[5]
4. Mention of Kalyani Varadarajan's trip to the United States https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/of-kanjeevarams-kaapi-and-carnatic-music-in-cleveland/articleshow/63831515.cms
5. Kalyani Varadarajan mentioned as one of the top woman composer of carnatic kritis https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/what-women-wrote/article34273199.ece

References

1. Lakshmi, M. S. "SMT. Kalyani Varadarajan – OUTSTANDING CARNATIC MUSIC WOMAN COMPOSER OF THE CENTURY". worldmusiccentral.org. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. Delhi, Publications Division (India),New (26 October 1958). AKASHVANI: Vol. XXIII. No. 43. ( 26 OCTOBER, 1958 ). Publications Division (India),New Delhi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. Lalita., Ramakrishna (2003). Musical heritage of India. New Delhi: Shubhi Publication. ISBN 8187226617. OCLC 52727323.
4. Ramachander, P R. "Carnatic Music Kritis - Kalyani Varadarajan". Vedanta Spiritual Library – via Hindu Religion Database hosted at Vedanta Spiritual Library.
5. "Books and CD of Kalyani Varadarajan's Kritis released". Isai Kudumbam. Retrieved 26 March 2016.