Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal is an noted vocalist who admits her lineage into the carnatic clasiscal tradition of music. She has been considered amongst the mostly popular and esteemed Carnatic musicians. She has been reckoned as one amongst the "female trinity of Carnatic Music". Other two are M. S. Subbulakshmi and M. L. Vasanthakumari. The entry of women into the realm of Carnatic Music has been made possible because of the endless effort of this trio.
Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal was born on 28th March, in the year 1919 at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu, India. At the tender age of 14 years, Pattammal gave her debutant performance. Stardom was not very far to reach for her. Today she has extended her musical career for more than 65 years. From the very beginning, she has started incorporating revolutionary trends with her sweet mental attitude and humble nature.
Before her, it was impossible for any brahmin women to execute art so publically. At that time society look at it as tabbo to execute art forms. Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal is the first one to exhibit Carnatic music both on stage as well as on air. She has also bagged the honor of being first who has performed Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi on stage for the first time. It has been considered as one of the most difficult composition of Carnatic Music. also it has been considered as the `male stronghold`. Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal also executed very complex Pallavi`s in intricate Talas (rhythmic cycles). As recognition to her expertise and her excellence she has been named as "Pallavi Pattammal". She was the first female Carnatic singer who performed Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi, today many female Carnatic singer perform this as main item of their concert.
Through her execution many compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar and Papanasam Sivan got popularity. She also holds an authority on the creations of Muthuswami Dikshitar. She has also underwent training under Ambi Dikshitar (Dikishitar`s grand-nephew) and from Justice T. L. Venkatrama Iyer in order to imbibe authentic versions of Dikshitar`s compositions. Throughout India and United States she has exhibited her gayaki. More or less she has performed all over the world.
Apart from performing on the stage she has also received many offers from the film industry. But she opted for those songs that were devotional or patriotic. With the hands of her, compositions of Subrahmanya Bharati became circularized. She has also popularised many unknown composers as well. Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal has been flooded with accolades through out her professional career. Some notewrothy honors includes, the title "Gana Saraswathi" conferred on her by the musician Tiger Varadachariar, the Sangeetha Kalanidhi (deliberated the highest accolade in Carnatic music) in the year 1970, the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India in the year 1971, and the Padma Vibhushan, India`s second-highest civilian honor, in the year 1998.
Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal`s voice quality can be attributed as the `full-throated voice in the low alto/high tenor range`. Musical quality that she holds can also be attributed as `overwhelming technical expertise, an uncompromising adherence to pitch and rhythm, and clear enunciation of lyrics`. Shlokas and viruttams (poetry or verse sung improvisationally without rhythmic accompaniment) through her performances has been expressed as exteremely emotional. This extremely disciplined artist since her childhood practicing Carnatic classical music under a rigorous discipline.
Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal through her quality of music has attracted many students in and around the world. She has also trined her younger brother D.K. Jayaraman, who has participated with her in several concerts, and who himself received the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award in the year 1990. Lalitha Sivakumar, Geetha Rajashekar, Nithyasree Mahadevan, and Bhavadhaarini Anantaraman are the most admiring students of her.
