Palghat R. Raghu Biography 
Palghat R. Raghu was a legendary musician and percussionist who hailed from Palakkad, present-day Kerala. He was a renowned mridangam artist. He was known to be a trend-setter and a creative genius, and an artist ahead of times. He received Sangeetha Kalanidhi award by Madras Music Academy in 2007, two years before his death. Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 1985 for his musical contributions. He was a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1983, Nada Brahmam award from Narada Gana Sabha in 2000, Nada Nidhi in 2001 and many more honours during his life time. He was a disciple of renowned artist, Palghat T. S. Mani Iyer, and also married his niece.
Palghat R. Raghu hailed from Palakkad, Kerala. He was born in Rangoon, Myanmar to Indian parents from Palakkad. Palghat Ramaswamy Iyer and Ananthalakshmi Ammal were his parents. His family later shifted to hometown. Since young he was taught mridangam, the musical instrument. Tinniam Venkatarama Iyer and Trichy Raghava Iyer were his early gurus. He continued his learning under legendary Palghat T. S. Mani Iyer. In between, he also graduated in Mathematics. But he dedicated his life towards the world of music.
He came into the Carnatic music field as a "connoisseur's delight" and remained so till his last days. As an accompany, he has performed with some of the legendary artists who were his contemporaries. Throughout his career spanning six decades, he was known for the intellectual content, as he never settled for mediocrity. His mridangam was a treat to the trained and enlightened listener, and he had a lot of fans. He is credited for creating a separate "bhani" or style of his own. A unique blend of the finest attributes of his illustrious guru, he developed a style of his own.
Published: January 17, 2019
Updated: January 17, 2019
