The English translation of the writings of U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer, known as Tamil Thatha (the grand old man of Tamil), on musicians and music was released on Wednesday by The Music Academy.
The book, Musical Writings of U. Ve. Sa, was released by N. Murali, president of the Academy, and the first copy was received by Sangita Kalanidhi designate R.K. Shriramkumar.
P. Saravanan, the editor of U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer’s works and autobiography, was also present.
Justice Prabha Sridevan, who translated the writings, said the collection comprised 18 articles, including three extensive pieces on musicians Ghanam Krishna Iyer, Gopalakrishna Bharathi, and Maha Vaidyanatha Sivan.
“Swaminatha Iyer himself learnt music from Gopalakrishna Bharathi, the author of Nandan Charithiram, but his teacher, Tirichirapuram Meenakshisundaram Pillai, opposed it, as he felt it would interfere with his Tamil studies,” Ms. Sridevan said.
