Śrī R K Venkatarama Shastri (1907-1993)

5. Veteran violinist of Rudrapatna

R.K. Venkatarama Shastri—Shriramkumar’s grandfather—is the crucial local linchpin who connects the Mysore lineage (Subbanna, Seshanna, Chowdiah, Sadashiva Rao) with the Rudrapatna family tradition. Accounts, interviews and family histories describe Venkatarama Shastri as a respected violinist and pedagogue who studied under the Mysore masters, Veena Subbanna and T. Chowdiah, and later established his own reputation in Madras. He emphasized gayaki (vocal) ideal in violin playing, stressing sahitya awareness and melodic expressiveness—values that his grandson R.K. Shriramkumar explicitly credits as foundational. Archival articles and profiles of the Rudrapatna family cite Venkatarama Shastri’s concerts, his All India Radio presence, and his role in shaping a family milieu that produced multiple distinguished musicians (R.K. Srikantan, Rudrapatnam brothers, etc.). In short, Venkatarama Shastri is the practical bridge who wove a musical fabric of Mysore and Tanjavur. 

This is one lineage that culminates today in Vidwan RK Shriramkumar.