Neyyattinkara Vasudevan

Neyyattinkara Vasudevan (1940–13 May 2008) was a Carnatic music vocalist from Kerala in south India.[1] The Padmasree-winning Carnatic vocalist and disciple of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Ramnad Krishnan, he combined tradition and innovation in his widely acclaimed career. Vasudevan is famous as being one of the first from the Dalit community to excel in the field which was previously the preserve of the upper castes.[2]

Neyyattinkara Vasudevan
Background information
Born1940
OriginNeyyattinkara, Kerala, India
Died (aged 68)
GenresCarnatic music
OccupationCarnatic Composer
Neyyattinkara Vasudevan Sings with Thodupuzha Manojkumar on Violin, Erickavu N. Sunil on Mridangam, and Elanjimel.P.Sushilkumar on Ghatom

Biography

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Vasudevan born in a poor Dalit family, in a village near Neyyattinkara in southern Travancore.[2] He did his formal music studies from the Swati Tirunal Music College, Thiruvananthapuram, chiefly under Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. He also did advanced studies under Ramnad Krishnan. He passed Ganabhushanam in 1960 and Sangeetha Vidwan in 1962.[3]

He worked as assistant professor at the RLV College of Music, Thrippunithura, for nearly a decade before joining All India Radio as an A-grade staff vocalist in 1974. He retired in 2000 and was later ranked 'A Top', the highest honour given by AIR to classical musicians.[4]

He died due to liver cirrhosiz on 13 May 2008 in Thiruvananthapuram aged 68.[4] He was survived by his two sons, Jayaraj and Baburaj, when he died. Ammukkutty, his wife, predeceased him.

Awards

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Movies

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He has also sung for some Malayalam movies.

Year Song Movie
1968 Sarasa Suvadana[10] Enipadikal
1987 Parama Purusha Swathi Thirunal
1987 Mamava Sada Janani Swathi Thirunal
1987 Kosalendra Swathi Thirunal
1987 Pannakendra Sayana Swathi Thirunal
1988 Nagumomu[11] Chitram
1990 Sree Jaanaveedharam[12] Vachanam
2000 Geyam hari naamadheyam[10] Mazha
2000 Paarukkulle[10] Mazha

References

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  1. ^ Obituary in Sruti magazine, page 19 August 2008 issue
  2. ^ a b "Kerala's Dalit singer who sang his way through caste shackles - Indian Express".
  3. ^ "Q4music: Sri Neyyattinkara Vasudevan". Q4music. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Neyyattinkara Vasudevan dead". The Hindu. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Search Awardees - Padma Awards - My India, My Pride - Know India: National Portal of India". Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  6. ^ Swati award for Neyyattinkara Vasudevan from "The Hindu" newspaper
  7. ^ "Classical Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Classical Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  9. ^ "SNA Awardees' List". Sangeet Natak Akademi. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  10. ^ a b c "Neyyattinkara Vasudevan Profile". Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ^ "മലയാളസംഗീതം.ഇന്‍ഫോ - MSI MalayalaSangeethamm.Info MSIDB.org". www.malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  12. ^ "വചനം (1990) (The Word)".