The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Kanjira artist Ramachar dead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Kanjira artist Ramachar dead

Staff Reporter

He had performed with doyens

CHENNAI: Senior Kanjira artist H.P. Ramachar died in Bangalore on Friday. He was 82.

Family sources said he was admitted to hospital after he developed fever last week. His condition worsened, and he was later diagnosed with kidney failure.

The veteran percussionist hailed from a family of musicians and Yakshagana artists. He learnt the Mridangam from his father H. Puttachar and began giving concerts at the age of seven.

Ramachar had performed with doyens, including Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M.S.Subbulakshmi and Palghat Mani Iyer.

Ensemble

He created `Karnataka Mahila Laya Madhuri', an ensemble featuring female percussionists.

Mr. Ramachar was known for introducing higher levels of speed in Kanjira playing in the 1970s.

He did a lot of research on the history, construction and tuning of the instrument.

His in-depth study of how the instrument could be handled in different temperatures (air conditioned auditoriums or otherwise) benefited several artists.

His last concert was with vocalist T.N. Seshagopalam at `Gayana Samaj' in Bangalore on May 30 this year.

He accompanied violinist L. Subramaniam in a concert held in Hyderabad on May 27.

He received several awards, including `Kanjira Chakravarthy', `Sangeetha Kala Rathna' and `Laya Kala Nipuna'.

He is survived by four daughters and a son.

His last daughter Lata Ramachar is a Kanjira artist. "It is a great loss for Carnatic music," said Mr. Subramaniam.

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