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Artist
D. K. Pattammal
12+ albums
carnaticcarnatic vocalIndianindiaindian classical
about
Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal (Tamil: தாமல் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி பட்டம்மாள்) (28 March 1919 – 16 July 2009) was a prominent Carnatic musician and a playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. D. K. Pattammal and her contemporaries M. S. Subbulakshmi and M. L. Vasanthakumari were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music." Pattammal has been appreciated all over the world by Carnatic music lovers. This trio initiated the entry of women into mainstream Carnatic Music. Pattammal was born on March 28, 1919 at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu, India. She gave her first public performance in Chennai at the age of 14. She quickly rose to stardom, and her musical career has spanned more than 65 years. DK Pattammal (right) in concert with her brother, DK Jayaraman; circa early 1940s.Pattammal's sweet disposition and humble nature belie the fact that she started a few revolutionary trends in Carnatic music[3]. She is the first Brahmin woman to have performed this music publicly, both on stage and on air. Brahmins ranked as the highest in the caste hierarchy prevalent in India in the early 20th century, and society considered it taboo for a Brahmin woman to perform on stage. Furthermore, Pattammal is also the first woman to have performed Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi on stage. Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi (or Pallavi) is the most difficult concert item in Carnatic music. Before Pattammal, it classed as a male stronghold. Not only did Pattammal boldly venture into Pallavi-singing,
