: Music runs as an undercurrent through many of T. Janakiraman’s short stories and novels, reaching its zenith in Mohamul, later adapted into a film. As Chennai continues to pulsate with music, Kalachuvadu has published a collection of short stories devoted to this theme, with a preface written by Sangita Kalanidhi Sanjay Subrahmanyan.
Janakiraman’s father, Thyagaraja Sastry, was an accomplished Harikatha exponent. During his years in Kumbakonam, Janakiraman had the opportunity to learn music from Umayalpuram Swaminatha Iyer. The music teacher, Ranganna, portrayed in Mohamul, was inspired by Swaminatha Iyer.
Despite his strong musical grounding, Janakiraman chose not to pursue a career in music. “Swaminatha Iyer passed away on the very day Janakiraman was to make his debut. When he went out to confirm the news, he saw the body being taken for the funeral,” said Kalyanaraman, author of Janakiramam, a collection of essays published to mark the writer’s birth centenary.
The Kalachuvadu collection contains ten stories. While some are centred on music, others dwell on the experience of listening to it. Readers familiar with Janakiraman’s writings and musical sensibilities will easily recognise his impatience with any form of music other than Carnatic classical traditions, as well as with music criticism.
