Pinakapani - A music teachers' teacher

Mar 11, 2013, 20:15 IST

Dr Sripada Pinakapani, a legend in Carnatic music, passed away at the age of 100.

He has been conferred a title 'Gana Vidya Varadhi' on his 100th birthday in August, 2012 by the State Govt and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). Eminent music exponents from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh had graced the occasion in Kurnool. He was honoured with swarna kankanam.

Pinakapani was not only a musician, but he was a doctor by profession. Pinakapani was born at Priya Agraharam of Srikakulam district. He did his degree in medicine in 1938 from Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam. He completed master’s degree in 1945.

Pinakapani worked in Madras Medical College as assistant professor for five years in 1944 and later in Andhra Medical College in Vizag and Kurnool medical college. Known as teachers' teacher, Pinakapani gave many concerts during festivals. Noted vocalists like Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, Nookala China Satyanarayana, Malladi Suri Babu and Malladi brothers are his disciples in the field of music. He penned several books on Carnatic music. 'Ganakala Sarasvamu', one of the books ran several volumes in which he gave minute details of krithis.

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