Shri Harikesanallur Venkataraman is a music critic who has done yeoman service in various fields of culture and art in Tamil Nadu. He is a widely acclaimed music critic for more than two decades. His reviews are known for its incisive and instinctive criticism. He is acknowledged to be a healthy critic. Not only that, with his sharp but witty criticism, he has been a guide for young musicians to understand the nuances of the art and correct themselves in their course.
His prolific work as a music critic is evident from the fact that he has authored more than 2500 write-ups in leading Tamil dailies and periodicals, viz., Dinamani, Dina Malar, Daily Thanthi, Sakthi Vikatan, Vijaya Baratham, Kalki, Mangaiyar Malar etc. His abiding interest in South Indian classical music found expression in the Tamil Monthly magazine Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni a unique periodical dedicated exclusively for South Indian Classical Music and Dance, for which he is the founder and first editor. He has also authored over 100 (Carnatic) music reviews in the English daily “The New Indian Express” during 1998-99. His interest lies in bringing to the fore the cultural, historical and artistic abundance in the culture of South India with reference to its temples/heritage/music.
Since December 2000, he has been writing music and dance reviews in Daily Thanthi, the largest circulated vernacular Tamil daily newspaper. This column is being published in Daily Thanthi during the World famous December Music Season being held in Chennai. His felicity of expression and command over the language has made him the natural choice for authoring the write ups.
He had also authored brief English comments in the Inlay - Cards of as many as 800 HMV-RPG audio CDs. During 1999-2000, he has produced hundreds of music and religious programmes for Jaya TV channel. He has produced ten programmes for Chennai Doordarshan Kendra. He has presented programmes in almost all Tamil Satellite television channels and also appeared as guest / anchor / compere - and had done many roles before and behind the camera. He has also composed music for some audio productions. He has acted in the role of an astrologer in Cho. Ramaswamy’s tele - serial Enge Brahmanan, which was telecast in Jaya TV
From May 2003, he has been continuously appearing in some TV or the other on all the 365 days. He is giving talks about temples, astrology, classical music and many other subjects related to culture. Specific reference may be drawn to one such programme titled as “Thalangalum Paadalgalum” meaning “Temples and Songs”. This 64 episodes programme was telecast on DD - Podhigai in the year 2009. The said programme highlighted the significance of the temple with reference to the songs sung to the particular temple. The narration given by Harikesanallur venkatraman in this programme described the mythological, historical & architectural significance of the temples with an emphasis on BAKTHI.
Harikesanallur Venkatraman is an erudite scholar with profound knowledge in Astrology, Hindu Religion, Tamil Literature, Classical music and many more subjects pertaining to Art, Culture and Heritage of our Nation. He gives running commentary for many Important Temple festivals & Kumbabishekam in Tamil Nadu. Thiruchendhur Soora Samharam held on “Skanda Sashti day” and Deepam festival of Tiruvannamalai held on “Karthigai Deepam day” are his favorites.
Currently, he is presenting a daily astrological programme titled as “ Oli maya maana Ethir kalam” in Zee Tamil TV from 7.00 AM to 7.30 AM. This programme is being telecast for the past six and half years. This Programme is rated amongst the top programmes in the morning band. In fact, it is the only astrological programmes which has got TRP/GRP rating among Tamil TV channels and is being viewed by over 2 crore people spreaded over 75 countries.
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Shri Harikesanallur Venkataraman is only continuing the hallowed tradition of his family by way of his commitment to music. He hails from an illustrious family of stalwarts in the fields of Music, Astrology and Law. His grand uncle Gayaka Sikamani, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Harikesanallur Dr. L. Muthiah Bhagavathar was one of the founders of the Madras Music Academy and had invented 25 new ragas in Carnatic Music and had composed over 500 songs in various languages. He was the first musician in India on whom an Honorary Doctorate was conferred. In 1942, The Kerala University honored Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar with Doctorate. He was the Asthana Vidhvan(court Musician)in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom.
Mention may also be made of his grand uncle Sangeetha Kalanidhi Justice T.L. Venkatarama Iyer – a Judge of the Supreme Court of India who popularized the compositions of Sri Muthuswami Dikshtar (one among the Music Trinity). Sri Swaminatha Swami Seva Samaj, the body administering the Uttara Swami Malai Temple, New Delhi (popularly known as Malai Mandir) was initially formed under the president ship of Justice Sri T.L. Venkatarama Iyer. He was the second President of Madras Music Academy. He is the one who taught Muthuswami Dikshtar Krithees to Bharatha Rathna M S Subulakshmi, Padhma Vhushan D K Pattamal and many more celebrities during 1930’s - 1940’s and thus popularised them.
The following are some of the awards which have been conferred on him:
Harikesanallur Venkatraman could be considered as the one and only astrologer who offers his astrological services selflessly without any branching claims to gain monetary benefits
Harikesanallur Venkatraman could be considered as the one and only astrologer who offers his astrological services selflessly without any branching claims to gain monetary benefits.
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