Photos: RK
Kunnakkudi Ramaswamy Vaidyanathan, simply known as Kunnakkudi, was performing at Malleswaram Arya Vaishya Sangha, in May ’99. It was the celebration of Sri Vasavi Brahmotsava. I sat for most of the concert listening to the Keerthanans. Only when KV started Vaara Banthamma (famous number of Dr.Rajkumar), did I feel the absence of my camera. I rushed home and got it and clicked the above pictures. KV’s different expressions for each picture shows how he loved to be photographed!
About KV applying Vibhuti and Kumkuma (Courtesy: Saravanan):
One day a young ascetic with a luminous glow on his face accosted KV and asked him his name and if he was a violinist. Then seeing the sacred ash applied carelessly on KV’s forehead, he gave a KV a gentle slap and instructed him on how to apply the Vibhuti stripes and Kunkuma pottu on his forehead. When Ramaswamy Sastri (KV’s father) heard of this, he was eager to meet the savant, but their search was futile. KV believed that the elusive saint was Lord Muruga Himself, and till the day KV’s mortal remains were consigned to flames, the Vibhuti and Kunkuma were applied as prescribed by the ascetic.
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Don’t miss: V for Violin, V for Vaidyanathan
Rambling with Bellur 