Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar

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Category: Music

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar Profile

  • Name:
  • Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar
  • Born:
  • September 1, 1896
  • Died:
  • October 16, 1974
  • Father:
  • Anantha Bhagavatar

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar Biography

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar was a legend of Carnatic music who lived in Chembai of Palakkad (Kerala) during the period 1896 – 1974. Known for his powerful voice and majestic style, his name is always counted among the greatest legends of Carnatic music as well as Indian Classic music. Several music festivals have been organized across south India since his death in 1974 – including the prestigious Chembai Sangeetholsavam. His prominent disciples include K. J. Yesudas, T. V. Gopalakrishnan and P. Leela and he has also mentored numerous classic singers. Popularly known as Chembai, he is known for recognizing young talents and encouraging them in very way he can. Rakshamam and Pavana Guru are the compositions popularized by him.

 

His birth name is Vaidyanatha Iyer. He was born in Chembai of present day Kerala State on 1 September 1896. He was born into an illustrious musical family that’s associated with Carnatic music for the past 5 centuries. His father, Anantha Bhagavatar, was a violinist and singer who has been honoured the title "Ghana Chakratanam" by Maharaja. Chembai started learning music at the age of 3 from his father and later mastered violin and flute in 1912. His first public performance was in 1904 at Ottappalam at the age of 9. He performed at Vaikom and Guruvayur in 1907 and also received accolades from singing legends Kaliakudi Natesa Sastry and Palghat Anantharama Bhagavatar. Since then he has performed in several concerts, including the prestigious Madras Music Academy.

 

Now many of his renditions during the period 1932 to 1946 are available which Chembai recorded with phonograph, long before the invention of microphone. That itself shows his powerful voice. Once an old friend, T. G. Krishna Iyer composed some 155 kritis. Chembai set them to classic music and named as Lalita Dasar Keertanaigal which he used to perform in concerts. Chembai died on 16 October 1974, aged 78, of a cardiac arrest. Coincidently it was the same Poozhikkunnu Sreekrishna temple in Ottapalam where he did his Arangettam.

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Updated: January 28, 2016

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