World-renowned Mridangam scholar Varadarao Kamalakara Rao breathed his last in Rajahmundry this morning. He was 88.  He received the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award years ago. Kamalakara Rao became a Mridanga Vidwan at an early age. A disciple of Palgat Mani Ayer, he received the President Medal from the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan during his college days. He extended mridangam support to several eminent musicians including violinist Dvaram Venkataswamy Naidu, G. N. Bala Subramaniam, Semma Gudi Srinivasa Iyer, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar and Mandolin Srinivas. His rhythms have been heard in all the prestigious Sangeet Sabhas of the country as well as outside. His mridanga music also resonated in the United Nations Hall in New York.

Kamalakara Rao, received innumerable honours, awards and rewards and entertained listeners with his mridanga vinyasa in many radio national music programmes and Doordarshan’s special programmes.