Born into a family that was steeped in music, Damal Krishnaswami Pattammal was among the first women to find acceptance in what was a strong male bastion – Carnatic vocal performance. In a career spanning seven decades, Pattammal mesmerised audiences with her ‘from-the-heart’ singing. Not known for experimentation, she brought greater depth to the tried and tested repertoire.
Apart from her impeccable Sanskrit renditions, Pattammal comes into her own when she sings in her mother-tongue – Tamil. She has also been acclaimed as an involved teacher. Among those who benefited most from her training were her brother D K Jayaraman and her daughter-in-law Lalitha.