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100
What is T V Gopalakrishnan's full name? 
Dr. T V Gopalakrishnan's full name is Thrippunithura Vishwanathan Gopalakrishnan. Fondly known as TVG, he is an expert in Carnatic and Hindustani music, a versatile vocalist, percussionist, and violinist. Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Government of India's Padma Bhushan, The Sangeet Natak Academy Award, and Arsha Kala Bhushan are only few of his titles. He is a mridangist who has accompanied many doyens of varied generations on stage. He is a pioneer of Indian Jazz, a voice expert, and most importantly a Guru to many artists world wide.
100
Which generation of musical family does T V Gopalakrishnan belong to?
T V Gopalakrishnan is the fifth generation of a musical family spanning over 200 years. His great grandfather, Sri. Gopalakrishna Bhagavathar, and his father, Sri. T G Vishwanatha Bhagavathar were great exponents of Carnatic Music and latter was a professor of music in SKV College in Thrissur. From childhood, he was introduced to the tradition and parampara by Coimbatore Raghava Iyer, Mahavaidyanatha Iyer, Chakrathanam Subba Iyer (great grandfather of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar) and Palghat Anantharama Bhagavathar. TVG's maternal grandfather, Haripad Raghava Bhagavathar, also known as Coimbatore Raghava Iyer (1825–1876), is the first musician who opened performances to the public. Prior to this, performances were only in palaces in front of royalties, zamindars, or in temples. He is the one who shaped the modern public kutcheri format.
100
Name the one person who we know well and is TVG's disciple?
Our teacher Smt. Sandhya Anand was one of his many disciples. While wishing him on his birthday, she fondly reminisced, "Such an unselfish and giving teacher!"..."Aesthetics is above everything for him- beyond techniques, beyond banis, beyond tala precision, beyond so called 'musical tradition' etc.".
100
Which famous 2016 Nobel prize awardee for literature did TVG collaborate with?
Bob Dylan, famous American singer-songwriter.
TVG has toured USA and collaborated with Pandit Ravi Shankar, The Beatles fame-George Harrison, John Handy, Ustad Alla Rakha, and Bob Dylan.
200
When and where was T V Gopalakrishnan born?
He was born on June 11th, 1932, in Thrippunithira, Kerala. Thrippunithura was the former capital of the Kingdom Of Cochin. Thrippunithura is famous for the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple. TVG was the eldest of nine children.
200
Who instilled music into young T V Gopalakrishnan first?
Although he was surrounded by musical environment, T V Gopalakrishnan's mother, Meenakshi Ammal, and his grandmother, Thaiyalambal, brought him to the world of music at a young age.
200
Can you name the song and the stage where our teacher accompanied TVG on violin? (Hint:Refer to the Sandhya Anand - Samskrtasangitam School of Music YouTube channel!)
Stage: TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam)
Song:Nagumomu in Ragam Abheri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSU-z1ocW6k
200
Can you identify the three stalwarts in this picture?
Young TVG, Guru Chembai, and another famous disciple of Guru Chembai, K J Yesudas.
Guru Chembai was known for his ability to spot new talent and encouraging them.
300
At what age and where did T V Gopalakrishnan perform his first concert?
T V Gopalakrishnan performed his first concert at the age of six in the royal Cochin Palace with the Viceroy of India in the audience in 1938. 
300
Who taught T V Gopalakrishnan mridangam?
T V Gopalakrishnan's uncle, Sri Narayanaswamy taught mridangam to T V Gopalakrishnan at the age of 4.
300
Which famous saxophonist was a disciple of TVG?
Sri. Kadri Gopalnath, a pioneer in Indian Classical saxophone was a disciple of TVG.
300
Which composition of TVG has Mrs. Sandhya sung and posted in the YouTube channel?
"Sundara Vinayaka", a song in the rare raga Ragavardhini-A composition on the Besant Nagar Sri Varasiddhi Vallabha Mahaganapathi.
Please find the link-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNksE1Hbd7Q
Additional links for a few of his compositions:
Thillana:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci4w6-rfFl0
Shivanai Ninaithidu Maname:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3qikg6BIfA
Maheswari Mamava Sathatham:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2APeKGtstQ
Sri Sharadhe Visharadhe:
400
Who was T V Gopalakrishnan's Guru?
T V Gopalakrishnan's Guru was Guru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. When T V Gopalakrishnan played second mridangam for Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar at a wedding concert in Ernakulam, Chembai wanted T V Gopalakrishnan to move to Madras right away, but his father insisted on finishing his B.Com. degree first. He says, “I arrived in Madras in 1951 with only Rs. 100, a few clothes, my mridangam and sruti box,”. 
400
When did TVG develop interest for violin?
TVG was already an established mridangam vidwan, accompanying upcoming and great musicians alike such as the legendary violinists Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, M S Gopalakrishnan, M Balamuralikrishna and his Guru Chembai. During this period, his friend Chinna Satyanarayana challenged TVG as an experiment to learn violin. TVG enrolled in The Government Music college, learned to play violin and delivered a concert playing the violin. 
400
Which famous Indian film music director was a disciple of TVG?
TVG was a guru and mentor to Ilaiyaraaja, who guided him on the nuances of Carnatic Music.
400
Voice Therapy and TVG?
In 1951-1958, TVG's Guru Chembai lost his voice. After treatments, in 1959, he regained his voice and sent word for TVG to accompany him in concerts again.
Maybe, this experience encouraged TVG to spend considerable time unraveling the intricate techniques on Voice-training, encompassing both ancient Vedic literature and modern scientific study of the singing voice. He says, "If you can speak, you should sing".
500
What office did T V Gopalakrishnan work at?
He joined the Accountant General's Office at the age of 19 and worked there for nine years.
500
At what age did TVG get his PhD, and what was his research topic?
TVG received his PhD at the age of 86. His research topic was "Layathwam in Carnatic Music" from Bharatidasan University.
P Uma Maheswari, Principal of Tamil Nadu Government Music College, was the PhD guide of TVG. She says, “He came to our college at the age of 80 for PhD with a lot of enthusiasm and all these six years he stuck to the PhD methodology while following all the processes without seeking any excuse. He attached audio visual content that runs into seven hours to his written thesis as part of the PhD work. He said music could not be fully explained in words.”.
500
Which famous percussionist was a disciple of TVG?
Sri. Anandan "Drums" Sivamani.
500
What is Layam? Have you heard of Konnakol?
Laya refers to tempo, speed, or rhythm of music. It is further categorized into different speeds, such as Vilambit Laya (Slow), Madhya Laya (Medium), and Dhrut Laya (Fast).
While Tala is the rhythmic cycle that organizes the beats. Talam gives the structure for the Layam to be maintained.
Konnakol is the art of performing rhythmic syllables (Solkattu) vocally.
Interestingly, Thillana structure includes Solkattu in the main section, and sahityam in the final section.
Refer to this video for an amazing Konnakol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iurhjlBum0o
In Carnatic music, they say Shruti (Melody) is the mother, and Laya (Rhythm) is the father. Dr. T V Gopalakrishnan is a rarity among musicians who has more than seven decades of experience in both melody and rhythm combined.
Please enjoy this eclectic composition by TVG.