Raghunath Panigrahi

Raghunath Panigrahi

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Category: Music

Raghunath Panigrahi Profile

  • Name:
  • Raghunath Panigrahi
  • Born:
  • August 10, 1934
  • Died:
  • August 25, 2013
  • Spouse:
  • Sanjukta Panigrahi

Raghunath Panigrahi Biography

Raghunath Panigrahi was a vocalist and music director and the first musician from Oriya language to be honoured with government of France, in the early '70s. He is popular as a singer with Gita Govind works, who popularized the works of Jayadeva and the cult of Lord Jagannatha. Famous Odissi dancer, Sanjukta Panigrahi who played a significant role in the revival of Odissi dance is his wife. They supported each other and were active during the decades of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s till Sanjukta’s death happened in 1997. After her death he was associated with the Nrityagram and formed the 'Sanjukta Panigrahi Memorial Trust' in 1999 to promote Odishi dance by recognizing artists and giving scholarships. He died most recently on 25 August 2013 in Bhubaneswar soon after his 79th birthday.

 

He was born on 10 August 1934 in Gunupur, Odisha. He met Sanjukta Panigrahi at Kalakshetra dance school, Chennai. She joined Rukmini Devi Arundale’s Kalakshetra to take advance training in Indian art forms. They got married in the year 1960 and had two sons. Raghunath was a fine vocalist and he started rendering music for her performances. Later the couple came to be known as Yamini-Jyothismathi duo and they worked together for more than 2 decades till Sanjukta’s death brought a permanent seize. They were jointly awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1976.

 

Together they have given some finest performances of Odissi dance form, including traditional, classical as well as modern. Chaupais from the Ramacharitamanas of Tulasidas, Jayadeva's Gita Govinda and the songs of Vidyapati and Rabindranath Tagore are regarded as their outstanding performances. Yugma-Dwandwa: a sort of Jugalbandi between the dancer and the musician in Raga Bageshwari is another experimental and innovative piece of art of this celebrated couple. He has been honoured with doctorates by many universities. Panigrahi has also worked as music director and playback singer of a few Oriya movies.

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Updated: February 12, 2014

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