[ August 4, 1929 - Feb 27, 2012 ]
A Tribute by Sri K. Srikantiah ( as narrated to Sachi R )
A Tribute by Sri K. Srikantiah ( as narrated to Sachi R )
“He came and performed in our house more than 100 times! For over sixty years, starting in early fifties when we were both around 24 years of age."
“He felt so much at home in Parvathi; he would come from Madras and call out for the help just as he alighted at the gate “Maadaa…” "
“He would say, “Vatsala amma, please,... I am so hungry, I will have your "thatte idli right away,"... " I will bathe later…”
“Ramabhadran started performing in Ganesha festival, and in house concerts, well before we started the Chowdiah Memorial Ramanavami concerts on a large scale in the outdoor pandal in 1970. Ramabhadran was not a reserved and reticent man like some other senior Mridanga Vidwans. He was a friendly and jovial conversationalist. He would add a quiet sparkle to the concert, and the musicians loved him as the concert would be smooth-sailing. He and Lalgudi Jayaraman were thick friends and used to perform a couple of concerts in every festival. We have several recordings of glorious concerts with Vellore Ramabhadran on the mridangam...”
Mr. Srikantiah is deeply saddened to hear of the passing away of this fine musician. He calls his style of playing “simply great”.
“He felt so much at home in Parvathi; he would come from Madras and call out for the help just as he alighted at the gate “Maadaa…” "
“He would say, “Vatsala amma, please,... I am so hungry, I will have your "thatte idli right away,"... " I will bathe later…”
“Ramabhadran started performing in Ganesha festival, and in house concerts, well before we started the Chowdiah Memorial Ramanavami concerts on a large scale in the outdoor pandal in 1970. Ramabhadran was not a reserved and reticent man like some other senior Mridanga Vidwans. He was a friendly and jovial conversationalist. He would add a quiet sparkle to the concert, and the musicians loved him as the concert would be smooth-sailing. He and Lalgudi Jayaraman were thick friends and used to perform a couple of concerts in every festival. We have several recordings of glorious concerts with Vellore Ramabhadran on the mridangam...”
Mr. Srikantiah is deeply saddened to hear of the passing away of this fine musician. He calls his style of playing “simply great”.
Sri Ramabhadran was present in Parvathi on two important occasions in 1986: at the function to release the 'Haridaasa Vaani' cassette of Mr. Srikantiah’s daughter Mysore Prabha by Vidwan Lalgudi Jayaraman. Soon afterwards, also at the wedding of Mysore Prabha, both these Vidwans graced the occasion. We feature two snapshots of Vidwan Ramabhadran from the video recordings of those occasions.
Soon afterwards, in 1986, there was a grand function (mentioned earlier in blog) to honour Vidwan Lalgudi Jayaraman at Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras, where Mr. Srikantiah was requested to felicitate Lalgudi. On that occasion, Sri Ramabhadran and family received, at their residence in Mylapore, Mr Srikantiah’s family including the newly wedded couple with 'aarathi' and their warm hospitality.
While paying our respects to this great vidwan and offering our prayers for the departed soul, we are happy we can share here excerpts from some great concerts featuring Vidwan Vellore Ramabhadran on the mridangam with leading musicians at Parvathi.
Soon afterwards, in 1986, there was a grand function (mentioned earlier in blog) to honour Vidwan Lalgudi Jayaraman at Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras, where Mr. Srikantiah was requested to felicitate Lalgudi. On that occasion, Sri Ramabhadran and family received, at their residence in Mylapore, Mr Srikantiah’s family including the newly wedded couple with 'aarathi' and their warm hospitality.
While paying our respects to this great vidwan and offering our prayers for the departed soul, we are happy we can share here excerpts from some great concerts featuring Vidwan Vellore Ramabhadran on the mridangam with leading musicians at Parvathi.
SELECT RENDERINGS
01. Pranamamyaham – Gowla – Mysore Vasudevachar
(V. Ramachandran-M. Chandrasekharan)***
02. Naa Jeevaadhaara – Bilahari – Thyagaraja
(Maharajapuram Santhanam- Lalgudi Jayaraman)***
03. Janani Ninnuvina- Reetigowla – Subbaraya Shastri
(M.D. Ramanathan, M. Chandrasekharan)***
04. Kamakshi Swarajathi – Bhairavi – Shyama Shastri
(Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Lalgudi Jayaraman)***
05. Krishna Nee Begane – Yamuna Kalyani – Vysaraya
(N. Ramani, M. Chandrasekharan)***
06. Govindam iha – Bageshri – Narayana Tirtha
(Chittibabu)
[The full concerts and details thereof are accessible through the index in the blog.]
01. Pranamamyaham – Gowla – Mysore Vasudevachar
(V. Ramachandran-M. Chandrasekharan)***
02. Naa Jeevaadhaara – Bilahari – Thyagaraja
(Maharajapuram Santhanam- Lalgudi Jayaraman)***
03. Janani Ninnuvina- Reetigowla – Subbaraya Shastri
(M.D. Ramanathan, M. Chandrasekharan)***
04. Kamakshi Swarajathi – Bhairavi – Shyama Shastri
(Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Lalgudi Jayaraman)***
05. Krishna Nee Begane – Yamuna Kalyani – Vysaraya
(N. Ramani, M. Chandrasekharan)***
06. Govindam iha – Bageshri – Narayana Tirtha
(Chittibabu)
[The full concerts and details thereof are accessible through the index in the blog.]
