Kumar Gandharva Biography 
Kumar Gandharva, also known as Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath was a Hindustani classical singer. He is known for a unique identity in the field of classical music as he didn’t bind himself to any kharana. For his contributions to Indian music, he has received numerous recognitions including - Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
Kumar Gandharva’s birth name is Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath. He was born on April 8, 1924 in Karnataka. He assigned the name, Gandharva in honour of a group of mythological characters of Hinduism, Gandharvas, who sing in the court of Indra. He was born in Sulebhavi near Belgaum, Karnataka. He did formal training of classical music under Professor B. R. Deodhar. He married Bhanumati Kans in April 1947 and moved to Dewas, Madhya Pradesh after marriage. He was stricken with tuberculosis. Luckily he survived. That time, TB was not an easy curable disease. However his voice and singing style would always bear the scars of his surgery. The illness greatly affected Kumar's singing in later years. Yet he carried forward his passion of music by doing concerts. His wife, who was his disciple too, nursed him during this period. His concert after prolonged illness took place in 1953.
Kumar Gandharva was proficient in devotional songs and folk songs and both were raga based. He is remembered for his great legacy of innovation, questioning tradition without rejecting it wholesale. Such innovations have always resulted in new combination of ragas giving a new experience to listeners. Though he received appreciations, he was equally criticized as well. One such personality was none other than his guru, B. R. Deodhar who was personality against his marriage with Bhanumati Kans too. Most criticisms were against his singing style (vilambit gayaki). He was assisted by his friend cum accompanist Vasant Acharekar. He was an assistant of Vasant Desai, but later devoted himself fully as assistant of Kumar till his death.
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Updated: January 07, 2014
