D.K.J.’s music glowed due to his complete mastery over rhythm. His ‘laya gyanam’ was amply displayed, when he wove beautiful swara patterns full of melodic beauty. DK.J.’s music was charged with ‘bhava,’ endowing it with a haunting quality. Aesthetics have always been a hallmark of the ‘D.K. Pattammal ‘Bani’. Their music induces repose (sowkhyam) and touches a deep chord in the listener’s heart.

The avid Carnatic music rasika identifies Sivan’s Kaanakkankodi (Kambhoji) and Kapali (Mohanam) with D.K. Jayaraman. Kritis of modern-day composers like Gangadheeswaram, (Sindhubhairavi) and Mahadeva shiva shambho, (Revathi), immediately conjure up the name of D.K.J. The poignancy of Nannuvidachi (Reethigowla) or Mayamma (Ahiri), have brought tears to the eyes of listeners. D.K.J.’s debut in Bombay, has an interesting story behind it. In 1962, D.K. Pattammal participated in the Tyagaraja Aradhana festival, organized by Bharatiya Music and Arts Society of Sion. The next evening’s concert was to feature another senior Vidwan Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Ill health prevented his travel to Bombay and the organizers were in a fix.

P.A. Raman founder Secretary of the Society, recalling the crisis said: “While we were wringing our hands in desperation, Palghat Mani Iyer suggested that we present the young Jayaraman, who had accompanied his sister the previous evening. T.N. Krishnan the violin vidwan too heartily agreed to the proposal. “It was a truly memorable debut for D.K.J.”

 An audio-cassette album of D.K.J.’s Navavarna Kritis was released last month. Rendered by Jayaraman and thirty disciples, It was a painstaking job that would have daunted anyone else but D.K.J. This achievement was proved to be a fitting swan-song for the maestro. A loving father, an affectionate brother and charismatic musician, D.K.J. had thousands of admirers all over the world.  His sudden death on January 24th, at the pinnacle of his career has struck a harsh discordant note in the music world.

Published in The Independent,  a Journal of Politics and Business, Times of India,

January 30, 1991.