Oottukadu Venkata Subbaiah Iyer (c. 1700-1765) was a great poet/composer who was born near Mannargudi and lived in a place called Oothukadu near Thanjavur/ Kumbakonam. He composed hundreds of compositions in Sanskrit, Tamil and Marathi of which over 500 are available. His compositions are a blend of a high degree of scholarship on a variety of subjects and inspired expression.
- Oothukadu External Site with songs
- Aadaathu asangaathu vaa
- Alaipayuthey Kannaa
- Asaindhaadum mayilonru
- Enna Punniyam Seitheno
- Gambheera Nadaiyoda
- Kalinga Narthana Thillana
- kuzhalUdhi manam
- Madanaanga MOhana Sukumarane
- Maninoopura Dhaari
- Nada Murali Gaana Vilola – Hameer Kalyani
- Nandraga Iru Thaaye
- pAl vaDiyum mukham
- Pranavakaram Siddhivinayakam – Arabhi
- senDRu vA nI rAdE – Ragamalika
- Sree Vignarajam Bhaje
- Swagatham Krishna – MOhanam
- vAnchasi yadi kushalam – Kalyani
Most of the details about Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi have been derived from his compositions and from the information handed down by the descendants of his brother’s family. In the history of Indian culture and specifically that of South Indian
Classical Music, where most information and its source have been scantily documented, the primary evidence is a composer’s body of works. Any external corroborations are only a bonus.
Mahabharata and Bhagavatam. It also explains his mastery over diverse musical
forms suited for music, dance, theatre as well as discourses and the emotive
appeal and devotional fervor in his pieces. Venkata Kavi had deep scholarship
in Sanskrit and Tamil. His fluency in Sanskrit rivalled that of his command in
Tamil, a commentary not only on his erudition but also a pointer to a period
when Sanskrit was used more conversationally than merely as an academic
language.
north Indian ragas such as Dvijavanti, Hameerkalyani and Sindhubhairavi. He
died in 1765 but left an indelible impression in the field of Carnatic music,
classical dance drama and expression of Krishna Bhakti as a composite exquisite
art form.