T. K. Govindarao

T. K. Govindarao (Tripunithura Krishnarao Govindarao) was the first Malayali film musician and a Carnatic musician (21 April 1929 – 18 September 2011).

Earlier life
T. K. Govindarao was a proponent of melody. He was born as the son of Tripunithura Vadakkekkotta Chakkalamutt Pallisserrimadathil Krishnarao and Kamalammal. The first Malayalam film background song Subhaleela in the movie Nirmala was sung by him. The first Malayalam movie duet Paaduka poonkuyile too was sung by him along with P. Leela. He sang only in this movie where the lyrics was by G Sankara Kurup and the score was by P. S. Divakar. He took an initial training under Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar and Later became the disciple of Musiri Subrahmanya Iyer and turned to Carnatic Classical Music.

He worked as chief producer at Akasavani Delhi and as producer at Akasavani Chennai. He was the president of Sri Tyagaraja Sangita Vidvat Samajam, Tyagarajapuram, Chennai. He published the works of Thyagarajar, Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Syama Sastri in English with their meaning. He published around 400 krithis of Swathi Thirunal. Very particular that Carnatic Music should be sung with the music of the lyrics understood, he formed a trust for the same named Ganamandhir.

He died at Chennai on 18 September 2011. T. K. Govindarao was awarded the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi award of the Madras Music Academy in the year 1999.

Awards

 * Kendra sangeetha Natak Academy Award (1996)
 * Sangeethakalanidhi (1999 - Madras Music Academy)
 * Sangita Vidvan (1951 from Central College of Karnatak Music, Madras)
 * GanakalaTilaka (Bangalore)
 * Sangita Sastra Ratnakara (Bhuvanesvari Pitham)
 * Svara Samrat (BM Trust KL)
 * Asthana Vidvan from Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
 * Saptagiri Sangita Vidvanmani
 * Sangita Samrat (Bharatiya VidyaBhavan CBE)
 * Gayaka Sikhamani
 * Sangita Chudamani (Sri KrishnaGana Sabha, Chennai)
 * Nadakkanal
 * Sangita Ratnakara(USA)
 * Sangita Acharya
 * Central Sangita Nataka Akademi Award
 * Sangita Purnasri
 * Hanumath GanaSiromani
 * Sangita Samrat (Mangalore Sabha)
 * Sri Vedavyasa Vidwanmani
 * Vivekananda National Award for Excellence
 * Kerala Sangita Nataka Akademi Award
 * Gandharva Vidyanidhi
 * Sangita Paramacharaya
 * Sangita Sevanirata