T.R.

Sundaresan
Mridangam Artiste
T.R. SUNDARESAN 2A, III Block, Triveni Apartments
sundaresan_mridangam@hotmail.com Kuppam Beach Rd., Thiruvanmiyur
Chennai 600 041, India
Tel. + 91-44-2441 8702

Present Address:
2A, Starlight Road,
SINGAPORE INDIAN FINE ARTS SOCIETY,
SINGAPORE – 217755
Ph: 65 62992613 / Hph: +65 90073369

Qualifications
• Initial training from his father Sri.T.V. Rangarajan
• Advanced training under the Maestro Dr.Yella Venkateswara Rao, adopting ‘ Gurukula System’
of learning for ten years.
• Diploma in Mridangam of Andhra Pradesh Government, Board of Examinations.
• “A Graded” artiste in Mridangam and “B High Graded” artiste in Morsing, AIR, Madras.
• Proficiency in playing other percussion instruments Ghatam, Morsing, Kanjira
• Expert in the rare art of Konnakol (vocalization for solo and rhythmic accompaniment).

Experience
• Performances, radio and television broadcasts with many eminent musicians all over India.
• Performances and percussion workshops in several European countries since 1987:
Festival of India in 1987, Berlin Radio live (2000), The KIT Tropentheater (Indian Music
Series) Netherlands and Belgium in 1991, 2003 and 2005.
• Long Indian Night in Berlin: SFB radio concert with vainika Rajeswari Padmanabhan in 2001.
• Mridangam Lecturer, College of Fine Arts, Kalakshetra, Madras for eighteen years.
• Pandit Ravi Shankar: “Swar Milan” troupe, Festival of India in Russia.
• BBC Radio Show: conducted “Layavichtra” at Earls Court, London 1988.
• Guyana Festival 1988: cultural programme during the State Visit by the President of India to
British Guyana.
• Therapy and rehabilitation programmes for retarded children and at Caduceus Clinic in
Germany.
• Berlin University, Germany: String Instrument Festival in 1991.
• Indo-Japan Joint Cultural Festival in Japan, Indonesia, Bangkok in the year 1991.
• Visiting professor at “Bharathalaya“ (Melbourne, Australia) to conduct arangetrams (concert
debuts).

Mridanga Tarang
Special mridangam ensemble programmes for several tuned drums: melodic music based on an
intricate "Pallavi" theme with scope for an extended solo by each expert drummer.

Books
• Co-author,‘Eloquent Percussion – A Guide to South Indian Rhythm’. Amsterdam: Ekagrata
Publications, 1996.
• Advisor, rhythmic sections ‘The Illustrated Companion to South Indian Classical Music’. New
Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1999.
• Authored the eight years theory syllabus book for the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society.
Achievements
As recorded in The Singapore Books of Records T. R. Sundaresan has played the non stop Mridangam
Performance, “Mridanga Maha Yagnam” for 42 hours which has commenced from 1st of May 2005,
5am and lost till 11pm 2nd May 2005.

Concert reviews
T. R. Sundaresan amazed the audience eloquently in a gleeful garb just reminiscent of that of the
illustrious exponent in ‘Vikatam’, Thiruvisainallur Ramaswamy.
- The Hindu, 17th Jan 1997

T. R. Sundaresan’s soft expressions on the mridangam helped the recital move with reassurance on
a smooth rhythmic course.
– The Hindu, 24th Sep 1999

He demonstrated Konnakol at lec-dem in Berlin and Koln. The audience also thoroughly enjoyed
his percussion Tani Avartanam
- Sruti Magazine, 30th March 1992

I must particularly commend the Morsing player who uttered the Jathis impeccably and with punch
– Indian critic Subbudu, Indian Express, 27th Dec 1990

The Soukhayam and Sunatham in T.R.Sundaresan’s Mridangam is something rare come by. He
relished every stroke giving it a melodic lift and rhythmic flourish. His Thani Avartanam in RTP
was a refined essay in percussion artistry
– Indian Express, 22nd May 1992

T.R. Sundaresan’s rhythmic support on the Mridangam with soft and sweet percussion Strokes
deserved praise
– The Hindu, 28th Aug 1992

T. R. Sunderesan provided ample rhythmic support to enhance the melodic line ... whether by way
of outlining the underlining rhythmic pattern or by inverting it and turning it upside down.
– Eindhoven Dagblad, Eindhoven (The Netherlands), 17th May 1995

T. R. Sundaresan’s soft taps on the mridangam enhanced the aesthetic aspect of the exercise. His
Tani in Madhyamavathi enlivened the laya patterns
– The Hindu, 12th May 2000.

Comments by music experts

The mridanga accompanist T.R.Sundaresan was very cooperative through out and his performances
was excellent. In Reinbeck, Germany, he gave a sampling of konnakol and morsing, and he was
impressive in both.
- Dr Pia Srinivasan (Musicologist, Germany)

This was a moving and spiritual experience that deeply inspired me. The purpose of Mr.
Sundaresan endeavour gradually dawned upon me as I sat and watched him play with unwavering
freshness and impeccable musicianship, song after song, for 42 hours. ... [he] made each moment of
those 42 hours come alive with vibrant music. This musical marathon is a celebration of Life itself.
- Prof. Kelly Tang, Ph.D (Singapore)