V. K. Narayana Menon (
Thrissur Vadakke Kurupath Narayana
Menon Menon may refer to:
People
*Menon (subcaste), an honorary title accorded to some members of the Nair community of Kerala, southern India; used as a surname by many holders of the title
Surnamed
*Menon (surname), the surname of several people
Give ...
) (1911–1997) was a scholar of
classical Indian dance and
Indian classical music
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...
. He was one of the prominent art critics of India and a
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, also known as Akademi Ratna Sadasyata, is an Indian honour for the performing arts presented by Sangeet Natak Academy. It is "the most prestigious and rare honour" conferred by the Academy and is "restricte ...
.
Education and career
Menon was born in
Thrissur city of
Kerala, in the famous Vadakke Kurupath family. He started his career as
BBC Music program producer. Later he became the Director General of the same. He had held important positions in art institutions and broadcasting centres of India. He was deputy director of
All India Radio. He was the secretary of
Sangeet Natak Akademi,
New Delhi- supreme centre for art, music and dance of
Government of India. He was the President of
National Centre for the Performing Arts-
Bombay etc. During these tenures he promoted various arts and artists immensely.
He was noted for his writings about Classical Indian dance and music. He has written many articles and books on the subject. He was considered one of the finest Indian art critic. ''Kerala: A profile'', ''Balasaraswati'' (About the life of great
Bharatanatyam dancer
Balasaraswati), ''The Communication Revolution'', ''The Language of Music'', ''Development of
William Butler Yeats'' are some of his works. He used to write columns regularly in esteemed magazines like ''
Illustrated Weekly of India'' and newspapers.
Indian government honoured him by the
Padma Bhushan in 1969
and the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, also known as Akademi Ratna Sadasyata, is an Indian honour for the performing arts presented by Sangeet Natak Academy. It is "the most prestigious and rare honour" conferred by the Academy and is "restricte ...
in 1980.
He was married to the daughter of
Rabindranath Tagore's brother.
See also
*
Mani Madhava Chakyar
Notes
External links
more about ''The Language of Music''
Inter-National Culture Center, 16 Hailey Road, New Delhi 1, INDIA
V. K. Narayana Menon Interview
on '' India Today''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narayana Menon, V K
1911 births
Indian musicologists
Musicians from Kerala
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
Year of death missing
Dance writers
Indian columnists
Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
All India Radio people
Writers from Kerala
Indian art critics
Indian male writers
Indian music educators
20th-century Indian educators
20th-century Indian non-fiction writers
Scholars from Kerala
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Translation