Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar | |
|---|---|
 A statue of Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar at Chembai (Kottayi) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vaidyanatha Iyer |
| Born | 28 August 1896 Lokanarkavu, Vadakara, Kerala, India[1][2] |
| Died | 16 October 1974 (aged 78) Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala, India |
| Genres | Carnatic Music |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1904–1974 |
| Labels | HMV, Inreco, BMG, Vani Cassettes |
| Website | chembai |
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar (born Vaidyanatha Iyer, 28 August 1896 – 16 October 1974) was an Indian Carnatic music singer from Kerala. He was born in Kozhikode, and moved to Palakkad along with him family during his childhood.[1][2][3] He is popularly known as Chembai, or sometimes simply as Bhagavatar. Chembai was noted for his powerful voice and majestic style[4] of singing. His first public performance was in 1904, when he was nine. A recipient of several titles and honours (including the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1951), he was known for his encouragement of upcoming musicians and ability to spot new talent.[3] He was responsible for popularising compositions like Rakshamam Saranagatam and Pavana Guru, among others.[5]
The music critic 'Aeolus' described him as "the musician who has meant the most to Carnatic Music in the first fifty years of the 20th century."[6] His prominent disciples include Chembai Narayana Bhagavathar, Mangu Thampuran, Guruvayur Ponnammal, T. V. Gopalakrishnan, V. V. Subramaniam, P. Leela, K. G. Jayan, K. G. Vijayan, K. J. Yesudas, Kudumaru Venkataraman and Babu Parameswaran, among others.[7] He also mentored many young accompanists, including Palghat Mani Iyer, Lalgudi Jayaraman, M. S. Gopalakrishnan, T. N. Krishnan, Palani Subramaniam Pillai and L. Subramaniam. Memorial music festivals have been held in his honour annually since his death in 1974, the most important being the annually celebrated Chembai Sangeetholsavam.
- ^ a b "The warriors of Vadakara - A glimpse of the 16th century history of the legendary heroes of Vadakara through its tangible heritage structures".
- ^ a b "Go on a thrilling trip to the martial arts heritage of Kadathanad".
- ^ a b L. R. Viswanatha Sarma (1954), Chembai Selvam (Biography of Chembai), 1954: Amudha Nilayam Ltd.
- ^ N. Pattabhi Raman and K.S. Krishnamurthi, Sruti, Issue 98, November 1992
- ^ "Chembai: Artist with a strong voice and a noble heart". The Times of India. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Aeolus, Shankar's Weekly, 12 December 1963
- ^ "Chembai Memorial Govt. Music College". The Hindu. 30 May 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2009.