Ramesh Narayan
Encyclopedia
Ramesh Narayan is a Hindustani
vocalist from Kerala
in south India
, and is also an acclaimed film music director. He has given concerts in several parts of his country and abroad. Ramesh Narayan began his initial training in Carnatic music
but later mastered the classical Hindustani
style under the renowned Pandit Jasraj
of Mewati gharana
.
up to the age of 20. While he was a student at the Music College, Chittoor, Palakkad
he was deeply drawn to Hindustani music and decided to dedicate himself to mastering it.
and resolved to hone his talent and technique under the Mewati Gharana Maestro. Pandit Jasraj trained him rigorously in the subtler aspects of music in the traditional Gurukula style. Ramesh Narayan has accompanied Guruji at several concerts.
Blessed with a powerful and expressive voice, his renditions are noted for their depth of imagination. He is equally at ease with the weighty and expansive Khayal or the crisp and moving Bhajan
.
One of his feats is a 30-hour concert he gave in dedication of his father and guru, the late Narayana Bhagavathar, and to Pandit Motiram, an exponent of the Mewati gharana.
He has composed, rendered and directed music for several feature films and television serials like "Gharshom", "Elayum Mullum", "Magrib", "Megh Malhar", "Makalkku", "Anyar", "Sheelabati" directed by well-known directors.
disciple. She is an exponent in Carnatic music who is also fortunate to have
trained under Parampoojya Guruji Pandit Jasrajji for some time. Ramesh Narayan
is also blessed with two daughters, Madhuvanti and Madhushree who also
follow their father's footsteps. Ramesh Narayan established the Pandit Mothiram Narayan Sangeeth Vidyalay in 1996, at Thiruvananthapuram
to foster learning and appreciation of Hindustani Classical Music. Inaugurated by Parampoojya, Guruji, Pandit.Jasraj , the institution today imparts valuable training and insights to many discerning students. Branches exist at Kozhikode
, Kochi, Thrissur
in Kerala and at Coimbatore
in Tamil Nadu. The school also holds the privilege of being the only school in India 1associated with Mewati Gharana.
Ans: All over India. One of my disciples Ramesh Narayan, is from Kerala, He isvery good and runs three school in Trivandrum, Ernakulam and Palghat.
The Hindu Jan. 16, 2005.
Screen Oct. 28, 1994, Mumbai
The Week Oct, 23, 1994.
Indian Express Jan, 8, 1995, Chennai
The Hindu Oct, 4, 1996, Kochi.
Pioneer Mar, 29, 1995, Delhi
Hindustani language
Hindi-Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language and the lingua franca of North India and Pakistan. It is also known as Hindustani , and historically, as Hindavi or Rekhta...
vocalist from Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in south India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and is also an acclaimed film music director. He has given concerts in several parts of his country and abroad. Ramesh Narayan began his initial training in Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
but later mastered the classical Hindustani
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
style under the renowned Pandit Jasraj
Pandit Jasraj
Pandit Jasraj is an Indian classical vocalist. He is the foremost exponent of the Mewati Gharana of Hindustani classical music.-Early life:Jasraj was born in Hisar, Haryana in an orthodox brahmin family to Pandit Motiramji, a classical exponent. His family is well known for singing in the Mewati...
of Mewati gharana
Mewati Gharana
The Mewati Gharana is a stylized musical family-hood of Hindustani classical music founded in the late 19th century by Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan of Jodhpur. An offshoot of the Gwalior Gharana, the Mewati Gharana acquired its name after the region from which its founding exponents hailed: the Mewar...
.
Early life
Born on 3 November 1959, Shri. Ramesh Narayan hails from a family of Carnatic musicians settled at Kuthuparambu near Kannur, North Kerala. He had his early lessons in music from his parents, learning Carnatic musicCarnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
up to the age of 20. While he was a student at the Music College, Chittoor, Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
he was deeply drawn to Hindustani music and decided to dedicate himself to mastering it.
Career
Moving to Pune, he learnt Sitar under the tutelage of Shri. Satchidananda Phadke, a renowned disciple of the Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Becoming a competent Sitarist in no time, Ramesh Narayan found himself captivated by Hindustani vocal. He joined the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and took his “Visharad” with high distinction. He felt entranced by the passionately evocative style of Parampoojya Guruji, Padma Vibhushan,Sangeeth Martand, Pandit JasrajPandit Jasraj
Pandit Jasraj is an Indian classical vocalist. He is the foremost exponent of the Mewati Gharana of Hindustani classical music.-Early life:Jasraj was born in Hisar, Haryana in an orthodox brahmin family to Pandit Motiramji, a classical exponent. His family is well known for singing in the Mewati...
and resolved to hone his talent and technique under the Mewati Gharana Maestro. Pandit Jasraj trained him rigorously in the subtler aspects of music in the traditional Gurukula style. Ramesh Narayan has accompanied Guruji at several concerts.
Blessed with a powerful and expressive voice, his renditions are noted for their depth of imagination. He is equally at ease with the weighty and expansive Khayal or the crisp and moving Bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
.
One of his feats is a 30-hour concert he gave in dedication of his father and guru, the late Narayana Bhagavathar, and to Pandit Motiram, an exponent of the Mewati gharana.
He has composed, rendered and directed music for several feature films and television serials like "Gharshom", "Elayum Mullum", "Magrib", "Megh Malhar", "Makalkku", "Anyar", "Sheelabati" directed by well-known directors.
Personal life
Ramesh Narayan is accompanied at many of his concerts by Hema, his wife anddisciple. She is an exponent in Carnatic music who is also fortunate to have
trained under Parampoojya Guruji Pandit Jasrajji for some time. Ramesh Narayan
is also blessed with two daughters, Madhuvanti and Madhushree who also
follow their father's footsteps. Ramesh Narayan established the Pandit Mothiram Narayan Sangeeth Vidyalay in 1996, at Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
to foster learning and appreciation of Hindustani Classical Music. Inaugurated by Parampoojya, Guruji, Pandit.Jasraj , the institution today imparts valuable training and insights to many discerning students. Branches exist at Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, Kochi, Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
in Kerala and at Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
in Tamil Nadu. The school also holds the privilege of being the only school in India 1associated with Mewati Gharana.
They wrote about him
- Pandit Jasraj - Today the number of your disciples and followers is legion. In whichpart of India do you find the maximum?
Ans: All over India. One of my disciples Ramesh Narayan, is from Kerala, He isvery good and runs three school in Trivandrum, Ernakulam and Palghat.
The Hindu Jan. 16, 2005.
- Ramesh Narayan, the popular Malayalam singer recently released a cher-ished dream and rode his name in to the book of world records when hesang continuously without a break for 30 hours.
Screen Oct. 28, 1994, Mumbai
- The stupendous effort which may gain Ramesh Narayan a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records....
The Week Oct, 23, 1994.
- It is not often that an artist from Kerala opts for Hindustani music asagainst the more accessible Carnatic style and this makes Narayan’s per-formance significant.
Indian Express Jan, 8, 1995, Chennai
- Ramesh Narayan belongs to the rare genre of musicians who ae not onlywell versed in the art and craft of their choice but also well informed ofits social, cultural and philosophical dimensions.
The Hindu Oct, 4, 1996, Kochi.
- There is an element of individual artistic insight in his deep involvementwith the raga’s moods and poetic contents.
Pioneer Mar, 29, 1995, Delhi
Awards and achievements
- Honoured by Parampoojya Guruji, Pandit Jasraj ji, at the Pandit Motiram Maniram Musical Festival, Hyderabad, November,1994.
- Entered into the Guinness Book of Records on October 8, 1994 for singing continuous 30 hour concert at the Soorya Dance & Music festival 1994 Thiruvananthapuram.
- Akashavani Annual Award for the year 1997.
- Centre for Media Studies Buddha Award for the year 1998.
- Honoured with the title- "Nada Chinthamani" in the year 1998 for his meritorius service to the cause of music.
- Kerala State Television Award for the year 2000.
- Soma Award for the year 2000.
- John Abraham Award 2001.
- Mathrubhumi Medimix Film Award for the year 2001.
- Film Critics Award for Television award 2002 for the Television serial "Devaranjini".
- 25th Film Critics Award for Best Music Director for the film- "Megha Malhar" for the year 2002.
- Nominated for the Raj Kamal Academy of Cinematic Excellence (Race National Award) known as V. Santharam Award,Mumbai.
- Film Critics & Television Award for the year 2003.
- Virtuoso Award, Chennai 2005.
- Kerala State TV Award 2005 'The Best Music Director Award' for 'RAGARDHAM' programme conducted by Doordarshan kendra".
- Film Audience Award, 2006 Best Music Director for his work on films 'Sheelabati' and 'Makallkku'.
- Kerala State Film Awards 2005 Best Background Music scorer for the film 'Saira'.
- Kerala State Film Awards, 2007 - Best Music Director for the film 'Rathri Mazha'.