Papanasam Sivan
Encyclopedia
Papanasam Sivan (September 26, 1890 - October 10, 1973) was a prominent composer of Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...

 and a singer.

A famous composer, Sivan was also known as Tamil Thyagayya. Using Classical South Indian as a base, Sivan created numerous hits popularised by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....

 and M. S. Subbulakshmi
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...

.

Early years

Papanasam Sivan's early years were spent in the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...

 area of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 where the kings patronised fine arts. He was born at Polagam Village in the district of Thanjavur, which was home to the illustrious musical trinity of Carnatic music. His given name was Ramaiya. In 1897, when Ramaiya was just 7, his father died. His mother Yogambal, along with her sons, left Thanjavur and moved to Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...

 in Kerala, where her brother-in-law was a Ramayana Sastri in the renowned Padmanabha Swamy Temple. At Thiruvananthapuam, Ramaiya learned Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...

 and Sanskrit and later earned a degree in grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...

.

Ramaiya was very religious, and with death of his mother in Yogambal when he was 20, became even more so. He wandered from place to place visiting temples and singing devotional songs. Ramaiya used to be an active participant in the devotional music sessions at the home of Neelakandasivan in Thiruvananthapuram. Thus he learned many of the musical compositions of Neelakandasivan. In this period, his wanderings would take him regularly to the temple at Papanasam
Papanasam
Papanasam is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In otherwords it is a grown up village and Growing Town. This is the town 25 km from Tanjore and 15 km from Kumbakonam...

, where he would smear bhasma
Bhasma
Bhasma in Ayurveda has been defined as a substance obtained by calcination.Use of both bhasma as well as in pishti form along with appropriate herbs for treatment of critical ailments is a medicinal preparation in Ayurveda and to some extent Unani Bhasma in Ayurveda has been defined as a...

 all over his body. Hence people began to refer him as Papanasam Sivan, the name by which he was to become well known later.

He picked up his first music lessons from Noorani Mahadeva Bhagavatar, son of Parameswara Bhagavatar. Later he became the disciple of Konerirajapuram Vaidyanath Iyer, a well-known musician, under whose tutelage Sivan blossomed into a consummate artiste that he was.

In spite of his deep knowledge of music, Papanasam Sivan was more interested in the devotional aspect of music. He preferred to sing devotional songs and encouraged other singers take part in sessions of devotional music with him. Papanasam Sivan was a regular in all the major temple festivals in South India with his devotional songs.

Family

Ramaiya (Papanasam Sivan) has a daughter Dr.Rukmani Ramani who is a leading Carnatic Musician in Chennai. Ashok Ramani who is his grandson is also a successful Carnatic Musician. Another daughter by name Nila Ramamurthy also composes Carnatic music. He had a brother Rajagopal Iyer whose daughter V.N.Janaki was an actress and wife of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Rajagopal Iyer also had a son P.Narayanan who was a great educationist in Chennai.

Sri Papansam Kumjumani Bhagavathar, Sri Papanasam Ramani Bhagavathar,Smt Radha Kalyanaraman(Vocalist), Sri Papanasam Kumar (Mrudangist), Master Sankaranarayanan R (Mrudangist), Master Gokul Kumar (Violinist), Kum. Anita Sivaraman (Dancer) are noted artists who are grand/great-grandsons and grand/great-grand daughters of Sri Rajagopala Iyer.

Compositions

Composition Raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...

 
Tala
Tala
Tala may refer to:* Samoan tālā, the monetary unit of Samoa* Tala , a DC Comics supervillainess of the Phantom Stranger* Tala , the goddess of stars in Tagalog mythology* Tala , a rhythmic pattern in Indian classical music...

 
Type Language Other Info Audio Links
Abayaambikaaramani sankarabharanam
Sankarabharanam
Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of...

 
Adimalarinaiyallaal pharaju
Alavillaiye mukhaari
Anbilaiye kamaas
Candra kalaavadamsam sankarabharanam
Sankarabharanam
Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of...

 
Cittam magizhvittidudu bilahari
Bilahari
Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is a janya rāgam from the 29th melakarta scale Shankarabharanam. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras in the ascending scale...

 
Dasarataatmajam poorvi kalyaani
Devi paadam paninden hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Devi Neeye Thunai Keeravani
Keeravani
Keeravani is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 21st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. The 21st melakarta rāgam as per Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music is ....

 
Dharma samvarttani taaye naattai
Durgaalakshmi saraswati aarabi, yamunaa kalyaani
Eesane inda chakravakam
Chakravakam (raga)
Chakravakam, is a rāgam , in Carnatic music . It is the 16th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. According to the Muthuswami Dikshitar school, this rāgam is called Tōyavēgavāhini. Chakravakam is close to Raga Ahir bhairav in the Hindustani music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub...

 
Enda vidamum mukhaari
Ennatavam seydane yesodaa kaapi
Saketa Raman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0RGxUXOZRs
Gangaiyani hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Gajavadana karunaa shree ranjani 
Gowri Manohara Kripakara gowrimanohari 
Ihapara menumeru simhendramadhyamam
Simhendramadhyamam
Simhendramadhyamam is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 57th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Sumadhyuti in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub...

 
Inbamenbadilaiye kaanadaa
Kaana kan kodi kambhoji 
Kaanarasamudan begada
Kaartikeya gaangeya hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Kaa vaa vaa varaali
Kadaikkan nokki hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Kadaikkan paarvaiyadu kamaas
Kali teerumo hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Kallaada ezhaiyallavo saveri
Saveri
Saveri is a Carnatic music ragam. This raga is a janya of the 15th Melakarta raga Mayamalavagowla. This raga brings out karuna rasa, i.e. it brings out the mood of pity.-Structure and Lakshana:...

 
Kanindarul purindaal kalyani
Kalyani (raga)
Kalyan or Kalyani, originally called Yaman, is a melakarta rāga in the Carnatic music of South India, and is also an important raga in Hindustani music.-Kalyani in Carnatic music:...

 
Kanmana murugacceyya shurutti
Kannan madhura idhazhai bhimpalaas
Karpagaambike bilahari
Bilahari
Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is a janya rāgam from the 29th melakarta scale Shankarabharanam. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras in the ascending scale...

 
Karpagame madyamavati 
Nityasree Mahadevan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIUdUYLbYNo
Kumaran taal yadukula kaambhoji
Kunran kudi hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Maa ramanan hindolam
Hindolam
Hindolam is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam . It is a janya rāgam , as it does not have all the seven swaras . Hindolam is not the same as the Hindustani Hindol...

 
Maal marugaa vasantaa
Mahaaprabo shree arabhi 
Malarinai tunaiye reeti gowla
Maname kanamum
Mariyaadai taano dhanyasi
Dhanyasi
Dhanyasi is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is a janya rāgam from the 8th melakarta scale Hanumatodi. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras in the ascending scale...

 
Marundalittarul gowla
Mulaadhaara murthe hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani also known as Hansadhwani, is a rāga in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam...

 
Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

 

Priya Sisters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnEIxq0hzgc
Naamamuravu darbaar
Naan oru vilayaattu bommaiyaa navarasa kannada
Naaraayana divya naamam mohanam
Mohanam
Mohanam is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam . It is a janya rāgam , as it does not have all the seven swaras .The equivalent of Mohanam in Hindustani music is Bhoop Mohanam is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an audava rāgam (or...

 
Nee arul puriya vendum keeravani
Keeravani
Keeravani is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 21st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. The 21st melakarta rāgam as per Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music is ....

 
Nee gadiyaladu bhairavi
Bhairavi
Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi virtually indistinguishable from Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Bhairava.-Symbolism:...

 
Neeyallavo kamavardani
Kamavardani
Kamavardani is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 51st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name Pantuvarali , although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardani.This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the...

 
Nekk-urugi abhogi
Abhogi
Abhogi is a raga in Carnatic music and has been adapted to Hindustani music. It is a pentatonic scale, an audava or owdava raga. It is a derived scale , as it does not have all the seven swaras...

 
Ninai maname anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P...

 
Paadamalare tanycam kedaaram
Paamalai inai undo harikambhoji
Harikambhoji
Harikambhoji is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 28th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system....

 
Paarvati naayakane shanmukhapriya
Shanmukhapriya
Shanmukhapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 56th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Chāmaram in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub...

 
Padamalare gaiyena mayamalavagowla
Mayamalavagowla
Mayamalavagowla , is a raga of Carnatic Music . It is classified as 15thmelakarta raga under Venkatamakhin's melakarta system. Originally known as malavagowla, "maya" was prefixed to it after the advent of the scheme of the 72 melas. The number 15 was assigned to it following the Katapayadi sankhya...

 
Padumaabhan marugaa nagasvaravali
Nagasvaravali
', is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam . It is a janya rāgam , as it does not have all the seven swaras ....

 
Paraamukham enaiyaa kharaharapriya
Kharaharapriya
Kharaharapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 22nd melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. Kharaharapriya has a distinct melody and brings out the Karuna rasam, invoking pathos in the listeners...

 
Paraashakti jananee hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani also known as Hansadhwani, is a rāga in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam...

 
Paraatpara vachaspati
Vachaspati
Vachaspati is a Rigvedic deity presiding over human life. The name is applied especially to Brhaspati, the lord of eloquence, but also to Soma, Vishvakarman and Prajapati.-Other uses:...

 
Parpala porpani (kanni) kamaas
Patita paavana raama hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Piravaa varam latangi
Latangi
Latangi is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 63rd Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Geetapriya in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub...

 

Vijaya Lakshmi Subramaniam - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4RMHpHASzc
Piraviyadanaar sahana 
Raadhaa mukhakamala hindustaani kaapi
Raagagopaala devaadi devane hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Raamam bhajata shree
Saamagaana lolane hindolam
Hindolam
Hindolam is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam . It is a janya rāgam , as it does not have all the seven swaras . Hindolam is not the same as the Hindustani Hindol...

 
Saamaja vara gamana madyamaavati
Saa sapaa nabonipaa hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani also known as Hansadhwani, is a rāga in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam...

 
Haranam ayyappaa mukhaari
Sharavana bhava guhane madyamaavati
Sivagangaa nagara punnaagavaraali
Sivakaama sundaree jagadamba mukhaari
Vani Sateesh - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPdeutoWoRY
Shree ganapatiye deva manohari
Shree maadhavaa behaag
Sreenivaasa tava kharaharapriya
Kharaharapriya
Kharaharapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 22nd melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. Kharaharapriya has a distinct melody and brings out the Karuna rasam, invoking pathos in the listeners...

 
Shreenivaasa tiruvenkata hamsaanandi
Shreeraaman ravikulasoman naaraayana gowla
Shree shhanmukam bhairavi
Bhairavi
Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi virtually indistinguishable from Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Bhairava.-Symbolism:...

 
Shree vaataapi ganapatiye sahana 
Sikkal meviya kambhoji 
Singaaravelavan vandaan anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P...

 
Sollu paapaa (paapaa kanni) mukhaari
Sree valli deva sena pathe Nata Bhairavi
Swaamy sharanam anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P...

 
Swaami unran caranam bilahari
Bilahari
Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is a janya rāgam from the 29th melakarta scale Shankarabharanam. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras in the ascending scale...

 
Taamasam en swaamy hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Taaye ezhaipaal bhairavi
Bhairavi
Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi virtually indistinguishable from Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Bhairava.-Symbolism:...

 
Tanigai valar thodi 
Tattvamariya taramaa reeti gowla
Priya Sisters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQy1JvFkXbs

Radha Jayalakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnxvv8LfnjI

Nityasree Mahadevan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp6p6zf-r9s

TS Sankaran (Flute) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nko5YJYIAr0
Tinameede natriname bhupalam
Bhupalam
Bhupalam is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is an pentatonic scale . It is a janya rāgam , as it does not have all the seven swaras . It is also written as Bhoopalam.It is considered an auspicious scale and a morning rāgam...

 
Tirukkumaranaa yavadarittaar sankarabharanam
Sankarabharanam
Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of...

 
Tiruvalar mayilaiyun (kanni) kamaas
Tiruvazhundoor vaazh dhanyaasi 
Tunai purindarul sudda hindolam
Unadu dayai enai kamavardani
Kamavardani
Kamavardani is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 51st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name Pantuvarali , although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardani.This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the...

 
Undenru urudi harikambhoji
Harikambhoji
Harikambhoji is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 28th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system....

 
Undu kuladeivaraaman hanumatodi
Hanumatodi
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 8th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga...

 
Unnaittudikka kuntala varaali
Un paadame punnaagavaraali
Vaanor vanangu anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi
Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P...

Vandadellaam varattum huseni
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK