Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu (8 November 1893 to 25 November 1964) was one of the most important carnatic violinists of the 20th century.

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu was born in November (Deepavali day), in Bangalore, India and was raised in Visakhapatnam. He was appointed Professor of violin in the Maharaja’s Music College in Vijayanagaram, at the young age of 26, and became its principal in 1936.

He was the first one to start the violin solo concerts. His first solo concert was given in Vellore in 1938.

He was partially blind. He played at the National Physical Laboratory auditorium, New Delhi in 1952, to raise funds for the Blind Relief Association.

Yehudi Menuhin, a world renowned violinist, was greatly impressed when he heard Dwaram play at Justice P.V. Rajamannar’s house. The famous playback singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao learned Carnatic music under Naidu.

He was known for his extremely well developed soft bowing technique combined with a firm fingering technique.

He wrote several interesting articles on music, like an essay on the “Peculiar characteristics of the tambura”.

He cautioned his disciples against missing practice even for a day. “If you don’t practice for one day, you will notice your mistakes, if you don’t practice for two days the audience would notice your mistakes!!”. He often used to say, “Music is an audible tapas.”

Sri Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Memorial Trust was established in Chennai.

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Kalakshetram was established in Visakhapatnam.

Statues of this great musician have been erected in Visakhapatnam and Chennai.

Awards:

  • Madras Music Academy presented him with Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1941.
  • Andhra University conferred on him Kala Prapoorna in 1950.
  • He received Sangeet Natak Academi Award in Fine Arts in 1953.
  • Padma Shree Award was conferred on him in 1957.
  • Indian Postal Department has released a commemorative stamp on his birth centenary in 1993.
  • Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1992 by Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai was awarded to Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Memorial Trust.

Family:

  • Eminent Musicologist Dwaram Bhavanarayana Rao is his son. Dwaram Anantha Venkata Swamy and Dwaram Lakshmi are his children.
  • Dwaram Narasinga Rao Naidu is son of Dwaram Venkata Krishnaiah Naidu, who was the elder brother of Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu. He worked as violin lecturer and principal of M.R.Government Music College at Vizianagaram for many years. Dwaram Durga Prasada Rao, Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao and Poosarla Manorama are his children.
  • Dwaram Durga Prasada Rao is eldest son of Dwaram Narasinga Rao Naidu. He has worked as principal of M.R.Government Music College at Vizianagaram.
  • Dwaram Anantha Venkata Swamy is his grandson. He is a Civil Engineer working in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
  • Dwaram Lakshmi is daughter of Dwaram Bhavanarayana Rao. She is Vocalist presently working as professor in Padmavathi Mahila University.
  • Justice Meenakumari ,is grand daughter of Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu and presently working at Patna High Court.