Brinda school is the distinctive style of singing in the Carnatic system named after the practitioner of the art. T. Brinda (1912 – 1996), the granddaughter of the legendary veena player, Dhanammal and daughter of Kamakshi Ammal, was bred in the evergreen nursery of vibrant classicism in Carnatic music. One of the representatives of the Veenai Dhanammal school of Carnatic Music. She was primarily a vocalist, although she also played the Veena. She is affectionately referred to as 'Brindamma', by her fans.
She imbibed the Dhanam tradition of melody and inherited its
grace and charm. She had absorbed enough music at home to elaborate ragas as
early as at the age of nine when she entered gurukulavasa under Kanchipuram
Naina Pillai. Her sister, Mukta, always sang with her.
The Brinda-Mukta pair was a prominent due for four decades,
till Brinda’s daughter and vocalist, Vegavauhini, joined to sing with Brinda.
She rendered ragas that featured complex patterns and subtle
gamakas, such as Begada, Mukhari, Sahana, Suruti, Varali and Yadukulakambhoji.
She was a repository of Kshetrayya padams and javalis (romantic compositions
rich in musical content) and many rare compositions of the Trinity of Carnatic
Music and Patnam Subramania Iyer.
Brinda, for over 70 years, remained a performing artiste of
merit. She had a vast repertoire of kritis, padas, and javalis. For exquisite
rendition of padams, Brinda won a name for herself, she brought out a collection
of javalis in 1965.
Brinda was the recipient of several honors including the title
Sangita Kalanidhi for the Madras Music Academy.
One of the representatives of the Veenai Dhanammal school of
Carnatic Music. She was primarily a vocalist, although she also played the Veena.
She is affectionately referred to as 'Brindamma', by her fans.