 Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Nookala Chinna
Satyanarayana is a doyen and a multi faceted carnatic classical musician. Gifted
with a sonorous voice and great caliber he adheres to classicism. A musicologist
and an erudite scholar, an outstanding teacher benefitting his title
Mahamahopadhyaya. He is a performer and a lecture demonstrator of universal
appeal, an author of some of the most valuable and enriching works on music. He
is an innovator of teaching methods, and a great visionary.
Born and Brought up
Nookala was born on 4th of August 1927 at Anakapally, Andhra Pradesh, India to
Smt. Yegnachayanamma and Sri Annapurneswara Sarma as 'Srividya' upasaka. His
mother fostered his talent and gave him the basic training in music and she is
the cause of his passion for music in his life. His father always motivated and
encouraged him.
Initial Learnings
Nookala was spotted as a young musically talented boy by the traditional theatre
too, and handled a few boy roles singing the verse with gusto that stunned the
seniors. But it was the classical music that attracted Nookala right from the
start. He has started as violin student and Sri Kambhampati Akkaji Rao led him
to Sri Mangalampally Pattabhiramayya garu at Vijayawada, and he was under his
guidance for 3 years. Nookala attracted by the violin legendary Prof. Dwaram
Venkataswamy Naidu garu made his way to Vijayanagaram to learn violin under him.
Prof. Naidu garu have Nookala the total encouragement and tutored him fully.
Nookala accompanied Prof. Naidu garu on his concerts all over India. Prof. Naidu
garu introduced Nookala to Dr. Sripada Pinakapani.
Born and Brought up
Nookala was born on 4th of August 1927 at Anakapally, Andhra Pradesh, India to
Smt. Yegnachayanamma and Sri Annapurneswara Sarma as 'Srividya' upasaka. His
mother fostered his talent and gave him the basic training in music and she is
the cause of his passion for music in his life. His father always motivated and
encouraged him.
Initial Learnings
Nookala was spotted as a young musically talented boy by the traditional theatre
too, and handled a few boy roles singing the verse with gusto that stunned the
seniors. But it was the classical music that attracted Nookala right from the
start. He has started as violin student and Sri Kambhampati Akkaji Rao led him
to Sri Mangalampally Pattabhiramayya garu at Vijayawada, and he was under his
guidance for 3 years. Nookala attracted by the violin legendary Prof. Dwaram
Venkataswamy Naidu garu made his way to Vijayanagaram to learn violin under him.
Prof. Naidu garu have Nookala the total encouragement and tutored him fully.
Nookala accompanied Prof. Naidu garu on his concerts all over India. Prof. Naidu
garu introduced Nookala to Dr. Sripada Pinakapani.
Polishing the Diamond
To Nookala's delight, the singing style underwent a sea change right after he
came under the influence of Dr. Pinakapani who is a Doctor among Musicians and a
Musician among Doctors. It was here Nookala sharpened his analytical approach,
achieving a deeper understanding of the science and art of music and pepping up
his style and unique new element of infusing the raga bhava in every note, every
phrase that adorned his Kriti's musical structure.
Nookala was attracted by several musical greats but never aspired to become
their clone. He developed his own style of singing never departing from
classicism, at the same time justifying and beholding the beauty of 'raga' and
the meaning og the 'Kriti', with special emphasis to the diction of the kriti
which he rendered.
Home and Family
Nookala is married to Smt. Sesha daughter of Smt. Annapurna and Sri
Ayyalasomayajula Kameswar Rao a 'Srividya' upasaka, and has seven children.
Their home at Secunderabad always wears a look of festivity with guests,
students and visitors of all kinds. The couple are famous for their hospitality.
Commitment to the cause
The commitment to the cause of music displayed by Nookala is rare to find. Such
dedication and devotion to music have been his credo all his six decade plus,
music career. He is always found occupied with music. He is either singing or
teaching or writing about music or innocation newer methods in teaching music or
planning for it's propagation.
Born leader
Nookala being a visionary, thought always ahead of times, and leads a musical
scene. He is born leader in his chosen vocation and mode of self expression
which remained music, music and music alone.
During Nookala's administrative career spanning over four decades he has held
various posts and positions to state some of them.
- Professor Maharaja's Music College of Vijayanagaram
- Professor Telugu University Hyderabad
- Principal Govt. Music College of Secunderabad
- Principal Govt. Music College of Hyderabad
- Principal Govt. Music College of Vijayawada
- Principal Sri Venkateswara College of Tirupat
Positions currently holding
Nookala is a born leader and a great administrator. He has always motivated
people around him to do their best in their chosen field.
Some of the positions he is holding.
- Founder President of Viswakala Parishat
- Chairman Board of Studies - Andhra University
- Chairman Board of Studies - Sri Venkateswara University
- Expert Member - Andhra University
- Expert Member - Madras Music Academy
- Member Audition Board and Committee - All India Radio
Some of the awards Nookala has received.
- Annamacharya Vidwanmani ('Sapna' - Sri Annamacharya Project of North America,
Chicago)
- Saptagiri Sangeeta Vidwanmani (Sri Tyagaraja Festival Committee, Tirupati)
- Nada Nidhi (Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamy)
- Nada Hridayagna (Swami Dayananda Saraswati)
- Nada Sudharnava (Murali Ravali, Madras)
- Sangeeta Sarvabuama (Sri Maruti Tyagaraja Gana Sabha, Tirupati)
- Sangeeta Ksheera Sagara (Sri Tyagaraja Narayanadasa Seva Samithi, Rajahmundry)
- Ganakala Ghandarva (Vamshi Arts Theatres, Hyderabad)
- Lakshya Lakshana Marthanda
- Sangeeta Sudhakara
Some of the awar-ds Nookala has received.
- Emipatus Fellowship from Govt. of India
- President's Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award
- Senior Fellowship of Deparment of Culture Govt. of India
Nookala is a Top ranking performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan. He has
participated in Sangeeta Sammelans and Outdoor broadcasts and National
Programmes innumerable times. His radio lessons of teaching and the Bhakti
Ranjanis are most sought after by the listeners.
He has the honour of being the Asthana Vidwan of
- Sri Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam - Tirupati amd Pitsburg, U.S.A.
- Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham of Kanchi
- Sringeri Sankara Peetham of Sringeri
- Pushpagiri Peetham of Pushpagiri
- Ganapati Sachidananda Ashram - Mysore
The greatest of the great have listened and appreciated his music. To quote some
of the praises he had received.
- Sri Paramaacharya of Kanchi "Your music is divine"
- Sri Bhagvan Satya Sai Baba "Your music is devotional and also oceanal" and
gifted him an emerald ring
- Padmasri Dwaram Venkata Swamy Naidu "Your intellectual grasp and talent are
mercury"
- Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar "Your are a budhisali"
Nookala has travelled all over India performing in all the prestigious
organizations. He is the favourite choice of SPICMACAY Society for Promoting
Interest in Classical Music and Culture among Youth. He has total command over
the South India and also a commendable knowledge over Hindustani style of music
which enables him to do a comparitive study demonstrating it vividly. These
demos are quite enlightening.
Lecture Demonstrations
Nookala has traveled throughout the world covering Uinted States of America,
Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mauritius. He has
given performances and lecture demonstrations and conducted workshops in several
prestigious universities to name some Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, London, and
Wakefield in K.K., Wesllien, Wisconsin, Colomba, and Colorado in U.S.A.
His lecture demonstrations are attended by students, teachers and acedamecians
and they love his smooth and patient way of making misuc easy, to understand and
enjoy. He compares Carnatic music system with other systems of world music,
including Hindustani variation of Indian music as well as Western Classical
Music and proves that Carnatic music is a universal style, covering every single
aspect of music exhaustively, that there is hardly any thing musical under the
sun which is not contained or covered by Carnatic music style of South India. He
made the listeners sing the Carnatic musical scale producing instant results. He
did this in apt demos in countries like Ireland.
Mahamahopadhyaya Title
The title Mahamahopadhyaya is given to a musician who has trained hundred
students. It would be necessary to added several 'Mahas' before this title to
suit Dr. Nookala when it comes to describing him as a Teacher. He has several
hundreds of students ranging from beginners to doctorate trainees, five year
olds to 75 year olds, prodigies to minimum gifted students. He has a passion for
teaching and enjoys it very much.
Viswakala Parishat
Dr. Nookala has founded Viswakala Parishat, a non-profit organization for the
cause of music and related activities. Through which he holds chamber of music
concerts and conducts music festivals of all the great composers. He especially
uses this dias to launch young and talented artists.
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