Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana is a doyen and a multi faceted carnatic classical musician. Gifted with a sonorous voice and great caliber he adheres to classicism. A musicologist and an erudite scholar, an outstanding teacher benefitting his title Mahamahopadhyaya. He is a performer and a lecture demonstrator of universal appeal, an author of some of the most valuable and enriching works on music. He is an innovator of teaching methods, and a great visionary.
Born and Brought up
Nookala was born on 4th of August 1927 at Anakapally, Andhra Pradesh, India to Smt. Yegnachayanamma and Sri Annapurneswara Sarma as 'Srividya' upasaka. His mother fostered his talent and gave him the basic training in music and she is the cause of his passion for music in his life. His father always motivated and encouraged him.
Initial Learnings
Nookala was spotted as a young musically talented boy by the traditional theatre too, and handled a few boy roles singing the verse with gusto that stunned the seniors. But it was the classical music that attracted Nookala right from the start. He has started as violin student and Sri Kambhampati Akkaji Rao led him to Sri Mangalampally Pattabhiramayya garu at Vijayawada, and he was under his guidance for 3 years. Nookala attracted by the violin legendary Prof. Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu garu made his way to Vijayanagaram to learn violin under him. Prof. Naidu garu have Nookala the total encouragement and tutored him fully. Nookala accompanied Prof. Naidu garu on his concerts all over India. Prof. Naidu garu introduced Nookala to Dr. Sripada Pinakapani.
Born and Brought upNookala was born on 4th of August 1927 at Anakapally, Andhra Pradesh, India to Smt. Yegnachayanamma and Sri Annapurneswara Sarma as 'Srividya' upasaka. His mother fostered his talent and gave him the basic training in music and she is the cause of his passion for music in his life. His father always motivated and encouraged him.
Initial LearningsNookala was spotted as a young musically talented boy by the traditional theatre too, and handled a few boy roles singing the verse with gusto that stunned the seniors. But it was the classical music that attracted Nookala right from the start. He has started as violin student and Sri Kambhampati Akkaji Rao led him to Sri Mangalampally Pattabhiramayya garu at Vijayawada, and he was under his guidance for 3 years. Nookala attracted by the violin legendary Prof. Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu garu made his way to Vijayanagaram to learn violin under him. Prof. Naidu garu have Nookala the total encouragement and tutored him fully. Nookala accompanied Prof. Naidu garu on his concerts all over India. Prof. Naidu garu introduced Nookala to Dr. Sripada Pinakapani.
Polishing the DiamondTo Nookala's delight, the singing style underwent a sea change right after he came under the influence of Dr. Pinakapani who is a Doctor among Musicians and a Musician among Doctors. It was here Nookala sharpened his analytical approach, achieving a deeper understanding of the science and art of music and pepping up his style and unique new element of infusing the raga bhava in every note, every phrase that adorned his Kriti's musical structure.
Nookala was attracted by several musical greats but never aspired to become their clone. He developed his own style of singing never departing from classicism, at the same time justifying and beholding the beauty of 'raga' and the meaning og the 'Kriti', with special emphasis to the diction of the kriti which he rendered.
Home and FamilyNookala is married to Smt. Sesha daughter of Smt. Annapurna and Sri Ayyalasomayajula Kameswar Rao a 'Srividya' upasaka, and has seven children. Their home at Secunderabad always wears a look of festivity with guests, students and visitors of all kinds. The couple are famous for their hospitality.
Commitment to the causeThe commitment to the cause of music displayed by Nookala is rare to find. Such dedication and devotion to music have been his credo all his six decade plus, music career. He is always found occupied with music. He is either singing or teaching or writing about music or innocation newer methods in teaching music or planning for it's propagation.
Born leaderNookala being a visionary, thought always ahead of times, and leads a musical scene. He is born leader in his chosen vocation and mode of self expression which remained music, music and music alone.
During Nookala's administrative career spanning over four decades he has held various posts and positions to state some of them.
- Professor Maharaja's Music College of Vijayanagaram
- Professor Telugu University Hyderabad
- Principal Govt. Music College of Secunderabad
- Principal Govt. Music College of Hyderabad
- Principal Govt. Music College of Vijayawada
- Principal Sri Venkateswara College of Tirupat
Positions currently holdingNookala is a born leader and a great administrator. He has always motivated people around him to do their best in their chosen field.
Some of the positions he is holding.
- Founder President of Viswakala Parishat
- Chairman Board of Studies - Andhra University
- Chairman Board of Studies - Sri Venkateswara University
- Expert Member - Andhra University
- Expert Member - Madras Music Academy
- Member Audition Board and Committee - All India Radio
Some of the awards Nookala has received.
- Annamacharya Vidwanmani ('Sapna' - Sri Annamacharya Project of North America,
Chicago)
- Saptagiri Sangeeta Vidwanmani (Sri Tyagaraja Festival Committee, Tirupati)
- Nada Nidhi (Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamy)
- Nada Hridayagna (Swami Dayananda Saraswati)
- Nada Sudharnava (Murali Ravali, Madras)
- Sangeeta Sarvabuama (Sri Maruti Tyagaraja Gana Sabha, Tirupati)
- Sangeeta Ksheera Sagara (Sri Tyagaraja Narayanadasa Seva Samithi, Rajahmundry)
- Ganakala Ghandarva (Vamshi Arts Theatres, Hyderabad)
- Lakshya Lakshana Marthanda
- Sangeeta Sudhakara
Some of the awar-ds Nookala has received.
- Emipatus Fellowship from Govt. of India
- President's Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award
- Senior Fellowship of Deparment of Culture Govt. of India
Nookala is a Top ranking performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan. He has participated in Sangeeta Sammelans and Outdoor broadcasts and National Programmes innumerable times. His radio lessons of teaching and the Bhakti Ranjanis are most sought after by the listeners.
He has the honour of being the Asthana Vidwan of
- Sri Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam - Tirupati amd Pitsburg, U.S.A.
- Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham of Kanchi
- Sringeri Sankara Peetham of Sringeri
- Pushpagiri Peetham of Pushpagiri
- Ganapati Sachidananda Ashram - Mysore
The greatest of the great have listened and appreciated his music. To quote some of the praises he had received.
- Sri Paramaacharya of Kanchi "Your music is divine"
- Sri Bhagvan Satya Sai Baba "Your music is devotional and also oceanal" and
gifted him an emerald ring
- Padmasri Dwaram Venkata Swamy Naidu "Your intellectual grasp and talent are
mercury"
- Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar "Your are a budhisali"
Nookala has travelled all over India performing in all the prestigious organizations. He is the favourite choice of SPICMACAY Society for Promoting Interest in Classical Music and Culture among Youth. He has total command over the South India and also a commendable knowledge over Hindustani style of music which enables him to do a comparitive study demonstrating it vividly. These demos are quite enlightening.
Lecture DemonstrationsNookala has traveled throughout the world covering Uinted States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mauritius. He has given performances and lecture demonstrations and conducted workshops in several prestigious universities to name some Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, London, and Wakefield in K.K., Wesllien, Wisconsin, Colomba, and Colorado in U.S.A.
His lecture demonstrations are attended by students, teachers and acedamecians and they love his smooth and patient way of making misuc easy, to understand and enjoy. He compares Carnatic music system with other systems of world music, including Hindustani variation of Indian music as well as Western Classical Music and proves that Carnatic music is a universal style, covering every single aspect of music exhaustively, that there is hardly any thing musical under the sun which is not contained or covered by Carnatic music style of South India. He made the listeners sing the Carnatic musical scale producing instant results. He did this in apt demos in countries like Ireland.
Mahamahopadhyaya TitleThe title Mahamahopadhyaya is given to a musician who has trained hundred students. It would be necessary to added several 'Mahas' before this title to suit Dr. Nookala when it comes to describing him as a Teacher. He has several hundreds of students ranging from beginners to doctorate trainees, five year olds to 75 year olds, prodigies to minimum gifted students. He has a passion for teaching and enjoys it very much.
Viswakala ParishatDr. Nookala has founded Viswakala Parishat, a non-profit organization for the cause of music and related activities. Through which he holds chamber of music concerts and conducts music festivals of all the great composers. He especially uses this dias to launch young and talented artists.
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