Trichur C. Narendran Biography 
Trichur C. Narendran is a renowned Mridangam artist from Thrissur (Trichur), Kerala. He was born into a family of musicians and scholars and is a member of the royal family of Thalapilly, Thrissur. Late Valiya Kunhunni Raja “Kakkad Karanavarppad” was his maternal grandfather. Noted violinist Thrissur C. Rajendran is his elder brother and his sister Prema Balachandran is a leading vocalist. He has been associated with many leading vocalists and has also toured several countries. He has also taught Mridangam in San Diego State University USA as a visiting professor. He has been associated with All India Radio as a staff from 1992 to 2011 and an ‘A’ grade artist. He has now retired from All India Radio and now settled at Chennai.
He was born to Venugopala Raja of Manakulam Palace, Thalapilly, Thrissur and Sarojini. V. Raja on December 15, 1951. He was grown up in a musical world. Narendran was initiated into an early training in Mridangam by Sri Kongorppilly Parameswaran Namboodiri and gave his first concert at the age of 10. It was David Bhagavathar of Kunnamkulam who advised him to take music as profession. He continued training under E. P. Narayana Pisharodi and Koduvayur Radhakrishnan. He has been one of the early disciples of Palghat R Raghu from 1973, on a scholarship given by Indian government.
He has accompanied as a Mridangam artist for Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and K. J. Yesudas at Peringode at the age of 15. His elder brother Thrissur C. Rajendran was also a part of these concerts. He performed with his guru Palghat Raghu in the Jass Yatra Festival in Bombay in the year 1978. Thanjavur Vaidyanatha Iyer award, Maharajapuram Santhanam Foundation Meritorious award in 1999 and Sangeeta Thilakam from Thiruvambadi Devaswom in 2012 are the major honours received by him.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 20, 2014
