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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
|Name = Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar | name = Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
| image = Chembai 1996 stamp of India.jpg
|Background = khaki
|Img = Chembai.jpg | caption = Chembai in an Indian Stamp
|Img_capt = Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, 1972 | birth_name = Vaidyanatha Iyer
| website = {{URL|chembai.com}}
|Birth_name = Vaidyanathan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1896|08|28}}
|Born = ], ] <br> ] ],
| birth_place = ], ], ], India<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/history-of-legendary-warriors-of-vadakara/article26794028.ece | title=The warriors of Vadakara - A glimpse of the 16th century history of the legendary heroes of Vadakara through its tangible heritage structures}}</ref><ref name="manorama1">{{cite web |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/travel-news/2018/10/17/go-on-a-thrilling-trip-to-the-martial-arts-heritage.html | title=Go on a thrilling trip to the martial arts heritage of Kadathanad}}</ref>

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1974|10|16|1896|9|1}}
]
|Died = ], ] <br> ], ] | death_place = ], ], ], India
|Genre = ] | genre = ]
|Occupation = Singer | occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1904–1974
|Years_active = 1904&ndash;1974
|URL = | label = HMV, Inreco, BMG, Vani Cassettes
|Label = HMV, Inreco, BMG, Vani Cassettes
}} }}


'''Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar''' <nowiki>(</nowiki>] <big>ചെമ്പൈ വൈദ്യനാഥ ഭാഗവതര്‍</big>‍) was an ]n ] singer from the state of ]. Usually known by his village name ''Chembai'', or simply as ''Bhagavatar'', he was born to Anantha Bhagavatar and Parvati Ammal in ]<ref name="cs">Chembai Selvam - Biography of Chembai written by LRV, 1954</ref>. Chembai was noted for his powerful voice and majestic style<ref name="sruti">Calutta K.S. Krishnamurthi, 'Sruti' Issue 98 Nov 1992</ref> of singing. His first public performance was in 1904, when he was nine. He was a recipient of several titles and honours in his performing career of 70 years (1904-1974)<ref name="mn">http://www.musicalnirvana.com/carnatic/chembai.html</ref>. He was known for his encouragement of upcoming musicians, and also for his ability to spot new talent.<ref name="cs">Chembai Selvam - Biography of Chembai written by LRV, 1954</ref> He was responsible for popularizing compositions like ''Rakshamam'', ''Pavana Guru'', among others.<ref>http://www.carnatica.net/artiste/chembai.htm</ref> The music critic 'Aeolus' describes him as "the musician who has meant the most to Carnatic Music in the first fifty years of the 20th century"<ref>Aeolus, Shankar's Weekly (Journal), Dec 12, 1963</ref> Some of his prominent disciples include ], ], ], ], among others.<ref name="cmc"></ref> Memorial music festivals are held in his honour annually since his death in 1974. '''Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar''' (born '''Vaidyanatha Iyer''', 28 August 1896 – 16 October 1974) was an Indian ] singer from ]. He was born in ], and moved to ] along with him family during his childhood.<ref name="thehindu1"/><ref name="manorama1"/><ref name="cs">L. R. Viswanatha Sarma (1954), ''Chembai Selvam'' (Biography of Chembai), 1954: Amudha Nilayam Ltd.</ref> He is popularly known as ''Chembai'', or sometimes simply as ''Bhagavatar''. Chembai was noted for his powerful voice and majestic style<ref name="sruti">N. Pattabhi Raman and K.S. Krishnamurthi, ''Sruti'', Issue 98, November 1992</ref> 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 ] in 1951), he was known for his encouragement of upcoming musicians and ability to spot new talent.<ref name="cs"/> He was responsible for popularising compositions like ''Rakshamam Saranagatam'' and ''Pavana Guru'', among others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-01 |title=Chembai: Artist with a strong voice and a noble heart |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/chembai-artist-with-a-strong-voice-noble-heart/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129044632/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/chembai-artist-with-a-strong-voice-noble-heart/ |archive-date=2020-01-29 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=]}}</ref>

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."<ref>Aeolus, ''Shankar's Weekly'', 12 December 1963</ref> His prominent disciples include Chembai Narayana Bhagavathar, Mangu Thampuran, Guruvayur Ponnammal, ], V. V. Subramaniam, ], ], K. G. Vijayan, ], Kudumaru Venkataraman and Babu Parameswaran, among others.<ref name="cmc">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/05/30/stories/2006053000250400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107123521/http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/05/30/stories/2006053000250400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 November 2012 |title=Chembai Memorial Govt. Music College |date=30 May 2006 |work=] |access-date=16 October 2009}}</ref> He also mentored many young accompanists, including ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Memorial music festivals have been held in his honour annually since his death in 1974, the most important being the annually celebrated ].


==Early life== ==Early life==
]
The family's tryst with classical music had spanned about five centuries. Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar's great-grandfather Subbier, had been the recipient of the title "Ghana Chakratanam" from a local Maharaja indicating his mastery of a special style of singing ]. Chembai's father Anantha Bhagavatar was a vocalist and ].<ref name="sruti">'Sruti' Issue 98, Nov 1992 - by N.Pattabhi Raman</ref> Chembai learnt ] from his own father, from his third year<ref name="cs">Chembai Selvam - Biography of Chembai written by LRV, 1954 (pg 28)</ref>, in the customary ]-] tradition, as a part of overall ] learning.
]
Chembai was born to Anantha Bhagavatar and Parvati Ammal on 28 August 1896,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CHEMBAI - MY DISCOVERY OF A LEGEND - NATIONAL AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY(2016) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9AELxSvfI&t=09m50s|last=Sadanandan |first=Soumya |date=2016-06-30 |website=] |access-date=2020-06-01}}</ref> into a ] family in Perakkool Madom, adjacent to ] in ], on ] day.<ref name="manorama1"/> He lived here until he was five years old when the family moved to ].


The family's connection with classical music spans five centuries. Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar's father, Anantha Bhagavatar, was a violinist and singer from Chembai, near Palakkad, to whom a local Maharaja awarded the title "Ghana Chakratanam", indicating his mastery of a special closed-mouth style of singing ].<ref name="sruti" /> At age 3, Chembai began to learn ] from his father<ref name="cs" /> in the customary ]-] tradition, and also began violin and flute training in 1912. Chembai is also one of 12 names of Sirkazhi, the birthplace of Saint Gnanasambandar 7th century CE in ].
Some of the noteworthy early events that helped shape Chembai's career as a Carnatic Musician are:
]]]
{{main| Concerts of Chembai}}
*His arangetram (debut concert) in Ottapalam (1904)
*Vaikom & Guruvayur Performances (1907)
*A year with Kaliakudi Natesa Sastry (1909)
*Accolades from Palghat Anantharama Bhagavatar (1911)
*Violin and Flute training (1912)
*Karur Concert (1913)
*Pondicherry Concert (1915)
*Ernakulam Concert (1915)
*Thiruvavaduthurai Concert (1915)
*Palakkad Ramanavami Concert (1916)
*First concert in Madras (1918)
*First concert with Chowdiah and Palghat Mani Iyer (1924)
*Inagural concert at the ] (1927)


==Singing career==
==Release of recordings==
Between 1932 and 1946, Chembai's music was captured on several ] discs. Those were the days before the advent of the ] in concerts and a singer was entirely dependent on the timbre and reach of his voice for a successful concert. Chembai was uniquely blessed in this respect, for his voice which had great depth, was a special attraction. <ref name="sruti">'Sruti' Issue 98, Nov 1992 - by N.Pattabhi Raman</ref>


{{main| Concerts of Chembai}}
===Lalita Dasar Kritis (1945)===
Chembai had an old friend called T.G.Krishna Iyer in ], who had by this time settled in Madras and offered a house to Chembai on Palace Road near ], in a locality called 'Lalita Nagar' he had himself developed. He had composed some 155 ]s in ], ] and ] under the ] ']' and requested Chembai to set them to music and popularise them. Chembai accepted the invitation and set the kritis to classical music, and got them published under the name ''Lalita Dasar Keertanaigal''. He made it a practise to sing these kritis in most of his concerts. The kriti Pavana Guru in the raga Hamsanandi is one that is now famous. He also released a record containing selected kritis from Lalita Dasar's kritis like Evariki Telusunamma (]), Ennil Kaninda (]), Pavana Guru (]), Varijadala Lochani (]), among others. <ref name="cs">Chembai Selvam - Biography of Chembai written by LRV, 1954 (pg 181-186)</ref>


Some of the noteworthy early events that helped shape Chembai's career include his ''arangetram'' (debut concert) in ] in 1904, performances at ] and ] in 1907, his year with ] (1909) and the accolades he received from ] (1911). Between 1913 and 1927, he performed at many different music festivals and sabhas, notably including the ] and the often forgotten Jagannatha Bhakta Sabha.
==Loss and regain of voice==
In 1952 Chembai lost his voice and couldn’t chant the name of his favourite deity, Guruvayurappan. He prayed fervently and apparently his prayers were answered when a stranger gave treatment to his voice for 18 days in Poomallianmana in Kerala at the residence of Nilakantan Namboodripad. He came around and was able to sing with increased vigour. Since then, he donated the majority of his earnings to Guruvayoor temple.
In 1952, Chembai was singing in a concert at the temple town of Suchindram. In the middle of the concert, his voice chords snapped and he could not sing thereafter. The concert ended in confusion. Here is an account (in his own words) of how his faith in God had brought back his voice:


===Release of recordings===
<big><big>“</big></big>On January 7, 1952, I was giving a concert at holy Suchindram. An hour had elapsed and I was at the peak of my performance. All of a sudden, my vocal chords got stuck up, as it were, and my voiced totally failed me. The concert broke up in confrusion. Many rushed up to the dais to render help. Doctors tried their best with pills and potions but to no avail.
Chembai has many ] recordings to his credit, recorded from 1932 to 1946. Those were the days before the advent of the concert ], and a singer was entirely dependent on the timbre and reach of his voice for a successful concert. Chembai had a voice of great depth.<ref name="sruti"/> Further, the perception that Chembai's repertoire of songs was limited is highly incorrect. The number of different compositions he recorded is in the hundreds (let alone the total number he performed in concerts and on radio during his career).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chembai.com/chembairecordings.html |title=''Chembai - Recordings'' |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915001324/http://chembai.com/chembairecordings.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


===Lalita Dasar Kritis (1945)===
I went through life without any hope and no ray of hope seemed to come anywhere. In this state of desperation, in 1954, on the great Ekadasi Day in Guruvayoor, I stood before the Lord and wrung out my heart to Him. I could not give vocal utrterance to my anguish. Memories of the glorious days when I had sung His praises surged forward.
Chembai's old friend, T. G. Krishna Iyer, from ], had settled in ] (now ]) and offered a house to Chembai on Palace Road near ]. He had composed some 155 ]s in ], ], ] and ] under the ] 'Lalita dasar' and requested Chembai to popularise them. Chembai set the kritis to classical music and got them published under the name ''Lalita Dasar Keertanaigal''. He made it a practice to sing these kritis in most of his concerts. He also released a record containing selected kritis from Lalita Dasar's kritis like Evariki Telusunamma (]), Ennil Kaninda (]), Pavana Guru (]), Varijadala Lochani (]), among others.<ref name="cs" />


===Performing ability and style===
O Lord, I cried out, will Thou not let me sing Thy praises? Will Thou let my heart break, for without this outward expression of my heart's agony, I can hardly live? Hadst Thou in the past not given the gift of speech to the great Muka Kavi? Had he not sung Thy praises in enchanting Sanskrit verses known so well as the Muka Panchasati Stotras?
Chembai had a vigorous, strong, vibrant, ringing and resonant voice. He would sing in a clear, open-throated style that requires high levels of physical and mental endurance to pull off, yet, he did so in a seemingly effortless manner. He had a wonderful sense of accurate kala pramana (time measure). He could do a ] and swaraprastara from any given point, which bespoke of mental alertness in a concert.<ref name="taal">{{cite web |url=http://taal.20m.com/chembai.html |title=Chembai Vaidyanath Bhagavathar |publisher=Taal.20m.com |date=16 October 1974 |access-date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531154509/http://taal.20m.com/chembai.html |archive-date=31 May 2010}}</ref> His empathy for his accompanists and disciples was noteworthy and he would go to great lengths to encourage them.<ref name="taal" /> Chembai has given his full emotion in the kriti ''Ksheera Saagara''depicting the mind of ] in the phrase''Tarakanama''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thekekara |first=Shaji Antony |date=2020 |title=International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research |url=https://www.researchpublish.com/upload/book/paperpdf-1589981797.pdf |journal=Prominence of Chembai Vaidyanathan in Carnatic Music and on Music Festivals (2020-2021) |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=219 |via=Research Publish Journals}}</ref>


Other stalwarts have admired the strengths of Chembai's singing. For instance, upon witnessing that Chembai was able to sing three major concerts in a single day, ] is said to have remarked "These are not ordinary men. These are the ]s of the music field. If I sing one concert, I need to rest the whole of next day".<ref name="reminisces">{{cite web |url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/zz1pp01ju36y94v/musicians_reminisces.pdf | title=A Musician's Reminisces - Prof. Mysore V. Ramarathnam}}</ref> Legendary percussionist ] would call him "Laya Brahma" for his impeccable grasp of tala and laya.<ref name="reminisces" /> ] has also remarked on Chembai's ability to hold notes aligned perfectly to sruti for extended intervals of time.<ref name="kvn">{{cite web |url=http://www.narada.org/interview-with-kvn.html | title=Interview with KVN}}</ref>
In my agony and mute supplication to the Lord, I had not noticed a ] standing at a distance of some fifty feet from me. He divined my trouble and came to me. He had evidently heard my inarticulate prayer. He promised to rid me of my trouble, Guruvayoorappan willing.


===Disciples===
The Lord had sent his minister to help me and I regained my voice. In keeping with my promise I have since then been singing the praises of Bhagavan. Every year, I have the 'Udayastamana' puja performed at the temple fo Guruvayoor and the sum of Rs. 5,000 need for it comes from the concerts that Guruvayoorappan himself arranged.<ref>http://guruvayoorappanvizag.20m.com/catalog.html</ref><big><big>”</big></big>
Chembai had many students, including ] and many noted musicians like ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/09/02/stories/2005090201460200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903011341/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/09/02/stories/2005090201460200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2006 |title=A maestro's music |date=2 September 2005 |work=] |access-date=16 October 2009}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/01/stories/2005110108140400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613053852/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/01/stories/2005110108140400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2007 |title=P. Leela's death mourned |date=1 November 2005 |work=] |access-date=16 October 2009}}</ref> and the ]-Vijaya twins,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/08/26/stories/2005082601090200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903185141/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/08/26/stories/2005082601090200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2010 |title=In memory of a legendary guru |date=26 August 2005 |work=] |access-date=16 October 2009}}</ref> Kudumaru Venkataraman, Paramasivan Bhagavathar and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar |url=https://prasarbharati.gov.in/chembai-vaidyanathan-bhagvatar-2/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=]}}</ref>

==Performing ability and style==

He could do a ] and swaraprastara from any given point (a view attested by his disciples<ref name="taal">http://taal.20m.com/chembai.html</ref>), which bespoke of mental alertness in a concert. His empathy for his accompanists and disciples was noteworthy and he would go to great lengths to encourage them.<ref name="taal">http://taal.20m.com/chembai.html</ref>

Chembai's music had a direct appeal to his listeners. According to Mr. B.V.K.Sastri, musicologist, "The deep solid tone seeming to illuminate such model figure in his singing and the joy of the pure ] when he held on to single notes are something not easily forgotten."<ref name="cvb">http://chembaivaithi.tripod.com/cvb1.htm</ref> To Chembai, the main factors that contributed to the development of a musical personality were the intuition of the musician, his sound knowledge of ragas and ]s and firm control of ] and ] and the capacity to evolve an individual style of expression suited to one's voice and aptitude and ideas distilled through the variegated experience behind him.<ref name="cvb">http://chembaivaithi.tripod.com/cvb1.htm</ref>

==Disciples==
He was above caste and communal prejudices ruling the roost in contemporary music world, especially in his relation with his disciples, allowing any aspiring and talented youngster to learn from him. His disciples and others who consider him their guru, include noted musicians like ], ], ], ], Palghat Mani Iyer, Palani Subramaniam Pillai, P.Leela, ], ], ]mana Raman Namboodiri, ], ], T.V.Gopalakrishnan, ], ], ], Yesudas among others.<ref>http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/socialhistoryofmusic.htm</ref>

==Awards and Honours==
]
{{main| Awards of Chembai}}
Chembai received various awards in his long career.

*Sangeetha Samrat from ] (1935)
*Honours from Mysore Maharaja (1937)
*Gayana Gandharva from ] (1940)
*Sangeetha Kalanidhi from ] (1951)
*Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1958)
*Suvarna Mudra from ]
*Padma Bhushan from President of India (1973)
*Honours from several princely states
*Commemorative Stamp released by Govt. of India (1996)
*Chembai Memorial Govt. Music College
*Music festivals held in his honour at various places


==Death== ==Death==
Chembai died suddenly on 16 October 1974, aged 78, of a cardiac arrest. Shortly before that, he performed his last concert at Poozhikunnu Sri ] temple in ] (the venue of his first concert),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Maestro’s tanpura taken to Guruvayur Chembai Music Fest |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/maestros-tanpura-taken-to-guruvayur-chembai-music-fest/article66149895.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230722002247/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/maestros-tanpura-taken-to-guruvayur-chembai-music-fest/article66149895.ece |archive-date=2023-07-22 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=2011-12-20 |title=A rags to riches story |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-rags-to-riches-story/article2729798.ece |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221122130140/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-rags-to-riches-story/article2729798.ece |archive-date=2022-11-22 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=]}}</ref> and concluded the concert with his favourite song "]" (''Why is there so much delay in conferring your mercy, Krishna?'').<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-01 |title=Ottapalam railway station gets a mural makeover |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/ottapalam-rly-stn-gets-a-mural-makeover/articleshow/80617384.cms |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=]}}</ref> He was talking to his disciple Olappamanna Vasudevan Namboothiripad when he suddenly collapsed and died. His nephew said he had always spoken about an easy death, and had attained it. He was cremated in his birth village. He was survived by his wife and daughter, both of them who died later. The government music college in ] was renamed to ] in his memory.
He performed his last concert on ] ], at a temple in ], which had been the venue of his first concert. He had finished his concert with his favourite song "Karunai Cheivan Endu Thamasam Krishna" (''Why is there so much delay in conferring your bliss, Krishna?'') and passed away shortly thereafter. Even after his demise, Chembai continues to inspire many musicians who participate in ].<ref name="gd">http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/chembai.shtml</ref>


==Music Festivals== ==Awards and titles==
{{main|List of awards and honours received by Chembai}}
]
]
===At Chembai village===
Chembai received several awards and titles during his career, most notably including:
Chembai had been conducting a music festival in his native village right from 1924 onwards. This is now continued by his disciples and others in his memory. The concerts are called Chembai Smaraka Concerts and held annually in February-March in the same village.


* "Gayana Gandharva" (a title bestowed by ] in 1940)<ref name="cs"/>
===At Trivandrum===
* ] (1951; highest accolade in Carnatic music)<ref name="cs"/>
Another memorial music festival is conducted by Chembai Memorial Trust at ] in his honour in September every year.
* ] (1958)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_music_carnatic_vocal.html |title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Award |publisher=Sangeetnatak.com |access-date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927131942/http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition%26honours_music_carnatic_vocal.html |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>
* ] (1964; by The Fine Arts Society, Chennai)
* ] (1972)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/classical-music/456|title=Classical Music|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref>
* ] (1973) – The Padma Bhushan is a national award bestowed by the President of India on select musicians and other eminent people. Chembai was selected to receive the award in 1973 from the then president V. V. Giri.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swathithirunal.in/composeres/chembai.htm|title=Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar}}</ref>
* The Department of Posts, Govt of India released a special issue stamp in Chembai's birth centenary year (1996).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianpost.com/viewstamp.php/Currency/Paisa/Alpha/C/CHEMBAI%20VAIDYANATHA%20BHAGAVATHAR |title=Chembai Stamp Released |publisher=Indianpost.com |date=28 August 1996 |access-date=16 October 2009}}</ref>


===At Guruvayur=== ==Music festivals==
{{main |Chembai Sangeetholsavam}} {{main |Chembai Sangeetholsavam}}
Chembai had also been conducting a Sangeetholsavam (Music Festival) on ] Day (mid November) at Guruvayur every year. This festival, now called ] in his honour, is now being conducted officially by the ] ] Board.<ref name="gd">http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/chembai.shtml</ref> Chembai had been conducting a music festival in his native village from 1924 onwards. This was continued by his family and now by Chembai Sreenivasan and Chembai Suresh (C. A. Subramanian). The concert, called Chembai Ekadasi Music Festival, is held annually in February–March. Chembai also held a music festival on ] Day (mid-November) at Guruvayur every year. This festival, now called ] in his honour, is officially conducted by the ].<ref name="gd">{{cite web |url=http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/chembai.shtml |title=Guruvayur Devaswom |publisher=Guruvayur Devaswom |date=16 October 1974 |access-date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114112928/http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/chembai.shtml |archive-date=14 November 2009 }}</ref>


==Guruvayurappan Chembai Puraskaram==
==Discography==
The Sri Guvayurappan Chembai Puraskaram, awarded by Sree Krishna Temple, ], is instituted in Chembai's memory of the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. This award, comprising a cash prize of INR 50,001, a gold locket of Sree ], a citation and ''ponnadai'' (a shawl adorned around the shoulders of a dignitary who is being honored), is usually presented during the annual Chembai Music Festival.
{{main| Chembai discography}}

Chembai has many recordings to his credit. The following are the album-covers of a few of the recordings of Chembai commercially published:
The recipients of the Chembai puraskaram include:
<gallery>
*Saxophonist ] (2013)<ref name="hind13">, ''The Hindu'', 31 October 2013.</ref>
Image:Gurusmarana.jpg
*Carnatic musician ]<ref name="hind12">, ''The Hindu'', 2 October 2012.</ref>
Image:Gurusmarana2.jpg
*Veena maestro A. Ananthapadmanabhan (2011)
Image:cvbgreat.jpg
*Carnatic musician ] (2010)
Image:cvblive1.jpg
*Carnatic vocalist ] (2009)
Image:cvblive2.jpg
*Mridangam maestro ] (2008)
Image:cvblive3.gif
*Carnatic vocalist ] (2007)
Image:Gayana.jpg
*Violin maestro ] (2006)
</gallery>
*Carnatic musician and mridangam maestro ] (2005)
More information about these is available at ]


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*]

==Notes==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count: 2; column-count: 2;">
<references/>
</div>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Sarma, L.R.Viswanatha (1954), 'Chembai Selvam', Amudha Nilayam Ltd.
* Aeolus, Shankar's Weekly (Journal), Dec 12, 1963.
* 'Sruti' Issue 98, Nov 1992
*


==External links== ==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Chembai}} {{commons category|Chembai}}
{{sister project links|Chembai}}
*http://www.chembai.com/
*http://chembaismruthi.org *http://chembai.com
*https://web.archive.org/web/20060610105948/http://chembaismruthi.org/
*http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/chembai.shtml
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070104210611/http://www.cmana.org/cmana/articles/gmcm.htm
*
*{{YouTube|j-8eA7Fl4q4|A movie clip showing Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar performing a concert}} accompanied by ] on the violin and ] on the ]
*http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/chembai.shtml
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}
*http://www.cmana.org/cmana/articles/gmcm.htm
{{Music of Kerala}}
*http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/carnatic_vocal/m/artist.15/
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
*http://www.sangeethapriya.org/~chembai/
{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}


{{authority control}}
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{{Persondata
|NAME=Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=ചെമ്ബൈ വൈദ്യനാഥ ഭാഗവതര് (Malayalam), Chembai, Bhagavatar
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Indian Carnatic music singer
|DATE OF BIRTH=], ]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=Chembai, ], ]
|DATE OF DEATH=], ]
|PLACE OF DEATH=], ], ]
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Chembai}}
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Latest revision as of 03:25, 6 January 2025

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
Chembai in an Indian StampChembai in an Indian Stamp
Background information
Birth nameVaidyanatha Iyer
Born(1896-08-28)28 August 1896
Lokanarkavu, Vadakara, Kerala, India
Died16 October 1974(1974-10-16) (aged 78)
Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala, India
GenresCarnatic Music
OccupationSinger
Years active1904–1974
LabelsHMV, Inreco, BMG, Vani Cassettes
Websitechembai.com
Musical artist

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. He is popularly known as Chembai, or sometimes simply as Bhagavatar. Chembai was noted for his powerful voice and majestic style 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. He was responsible for popularising compositions like Rakshamam Saranagatam and Pavana Guru, among others.

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." 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. 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.

Early life

Chembai was born to Anantha Bhagavatar and Parvati Ammal on 28 August 1896, into a Tamil Brahmin family in Perakkool Madom, adjacent to Lokanarkavu in Kozhikode, on Janmashtami day. He lived here until he was five years old when the family moved to Palakkad.

The family's connection with classical music spans five centuries. Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar's father, Anantha Bhagavatar, was a violinist and singer from Chembai, near Palakkad, to whom a local Maharaja awarded the title "Ghana Chakratanam", indicating his mastery of a special closed-mouth style of singing tanam. At age 3, Chembai began to learn Carnatic music from his father in the customary guru-sishya tradition, and also began violin and flute training in 1912. Chembai is also one of 12 names of Sirkazhi, the birthplace of Saint Gnanasambandar 7th century CE in Tamil Nadu.

Singing career

Main article: Concerts of Chembai

Some of the noteworthy early events that helped shape Chembai's career include his arangetram (debut concert) in Ottapalam in 1904, performances at Vaikom and Guruvayur in 1907, his year with Kaliakudi Natesa Sastry (1909) and the accolades he received from Palghat Anantharama Bhagavatar (1911). Between 1913 and 1927, he performed at many different music festivals and sabhas, notably including the Madras Music Academy and the often forgotten Jagannatha Bhakta Sabha. In 1952 Chembai lost his voice and couldn’t chant the name of his favourite deity, Guruvayurappan. He prayed fervently and apparently his prayers were answered when a stranger gave treatment to his voice for 18 days in Poomallianmana in Kerala at the residence of Nilakantan Namboodripad. He came around and was able to sing with increased vigour. Since then, he donated the majority of his earnings to Guruvayoor temple.

Release of recordings

Chembai has many phonograph recordings to his credit, recorded from 1932 to 1946. Those were the days before the advent of the concert microphone, and a singer was entirely dependent on the timbre and reach of his voice for a successful concert. Chembai had a voice of great depth. Further, the perception that Chembai's repertoire of songs was limited is highly incorrect. The number of different compositions he recorded is in the hundreds (let alone the total number he performed in concerts and on radio during his career).

Lalita Dasar Kritis (1945)

Chembai's old friend, T. G. Krishna Iyer, from Tripunithura, had settled in Madras (now Chennai) and offered a house to Chembai on Palace Road near Santhome. He had composed some 155 kritis in Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Sanskrit under the mudra 'Lalita dasar' and requested Chembai to popularise them. Chembai set the kritis to classical music and got them published under the name Lalita Dasar Keertanaigal. He made it a practice to sing these kritis in most of his concerts. He also released a record containing selected kritis from Lalita Dasar's kritis like Evariki Telusunamma (Dhanyasi), Ennil Kaninda (Shankarabharanam), Pavana Guru (Hamsanandi), Varijadala Lochani (Arabhi), among others.

Performing ability and style

Chembai had a vigorous, strong, vibrant, ringing and resonant voice. He would sing in a clear, open-throated style that requires high levels of physical and mental endurance to pull off, yet, he did so in a seemingly effortless manner. He had a wonderful sense of accurate kala pramana (time measure). He could do a niraval and swaraprastara from any given point, which bespoke of mental alertness in a concert. His empathy for his accompanists and disciples was noteworthy and he would go to great lengths to encourage them. Chembai has given his full emotion in the kriti Ksheera Saagaradepicting the mind of Tyagaraja in the phraseTarakanama.

Other stalwarts have admired the strengths of Chembai's singing. For instance, upon witnessing that Chembai was able to sing three major concerts in a single day, G. N. Balasubramaniam is said to have remarked "These are not ordinary men. These are the Asuras of the music field. If I sing one concert, I need to rest the whole of next day". Legendary percussionist Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai would call him "Laya Brahma" for his impeccable grasp of tala and laya. K. V. Narayanaswamy has also remarked on Chembai's ability to hold notes aligned perfectly to sruti for extended intervals of time.

Disciples

Chembai had many students, including K. J. Yesudas and many noted musicians like T. V. Gopalakrishnan, P. Leela, and the Jaya-Vijaya twins, Kudumaru Venkataraman, Paramasivan Bhagavathar and others.

Death

Chembai died suddenly on 16 October 1974, aged 78, of a cardiac arrest. Shortly before that, he performed his last concert at Poozhikunnu Sri Krishna temple in Ottapalam (the venue of his first concert), and concluded the concert with his favourite song "Karuna Cheyvan Enthu Thamasam Krishna?" (Why is there so much delay in conferring your mercy, Krishna?). He was talking to his disciple Olappamanna Vasudevan Namboothiripad when he suddenly collapsed and died. His nephew said he had always spoken about an easy death, and had attained it. He was cremated in his birth village. He was survived by his wife and daughter, both of them who died later. The government music college in Palakkad was renamed to Chembai Memorial Government Music College in his memory.

Awards and titles

Main article: List of awards and honours received by Chembai
Chembai statue in Kerala

Chembai received several awards and titles during his career, most notably including:

Music festivals

Main article: Chembai Sangeetholsavam

Chembai had been conducting a music festival in his native village from 1924 onwards. This was continued by his family and now by Chembai Sreenivasan and Chembai Suresh (C. A. Subramanian). The concert, called Chembai Ekadasi Music Festival, is held annually in February–March. Chembai also held a music festival on Guruvayur Ekadasi Day (mid-November) at Guruvayur every year. This festival, now called Chembai Sangeetholsavam in his honour, is officially conducted by the Guruvayur Devaswom Board.

Guruvayurappan Chembai Puraskaram

The Sri Guvayurappan Chembai Puraskaram, awarded by Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayur, is instituted in Chembai's memory of the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. This award, comprising a cash prize of INR 50,001, a gold locket of Sree Guruvayurappan, a citation and ponnadai (a shawl adorned around the shoulders of a dignitary who is being honored), is usually presented during the annual Chembai Music Festival.

The recipients of the Chembai puraskaram include:

See also

References

  1. ^ "The warriors of Vadakara - A glimpse of the 16th century history of the legendary heroes of Vadakara through its tangible heritage structures".
  2. ^ "Go on a thrilling trip to the martial arts heritage of Kadathanad".
  3. ^ L. R. Viswanatha Sarma (1954), Chembai Selvam (Biography of Chembai), 1954: Amudha Nilayam Ltd.
  4. ^ N. Pattabhi Raman and K.S. Krishnamurthi, Sruti, Issue 98, November 1992
  5. "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.
  6. Aeolus, Shankar's Weekly, 12 December 1963
  7. "Chembai Memorial Govt. Music College". The Hindu. 30 May 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  8. Sadanandan, Soumya (30 June 2016). "CHEMBAI - MY DISCOVERY OF A LEGEND - NATIONAL AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY(2016)". YouTube. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  9. "Chembai - Recordings". Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Chembai Vaidyanath Bhagavathar". Taal.20m.com. 16 October 1974. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  11. Thekekara, Shaji Antony (2020). "International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research" (PDF). Prominence of Chembai Vaidyanathan in Carnatic Music and on Music Festivals (2020-2021). 8 (2): 219 – via Research Publish Journals.
  12. ^ "A Musician's Reminisces - Prof. Mysore V. Ramarathnam" (PDF).
  13. "Interview with KVN".
  14. "A maestro's music". The Hindu. 2 September 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  15. "P. Leela's death mourned". The Hindu. 1 November 2005. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  16. "In memory of a legendary guru". The Hindu. 26 August 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  17. "Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar". Prasar Bharati. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  18. "Maestro's tanpura taken to Guruvayur Chembai Music Fest". The Hindu. 17 November 2022. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  19. Kolappan, B. (20 December 2011). "A rags to riches story". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  20. "Ottapalam railway station gets a mural makeover". The Times of India. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  21. "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award". Sangeetnatak.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  22. "Classical Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  23. "Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar".
  24. "Chembai Stamp Released". Indianpost.com. 28 August 1996. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  25. "Guruvayur Devaswom". Guruvayur Devaswom. 16 October 1974. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  26. Chembai Puraskaram for Kadri Gopalnath, The Hindu, 31 October 2013.
  27. Chembai award for 2012 announced, The Hindu, 2 October 2012.

External links

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