Renowned Kirana Gharana Vocalist Pandit Sudhakar Chavan Honoured with 21st Kumar Gandharva National Award

By Shantiswaroop Tripathi

On 27 September, the 21st Kumar Gandharva Award ceremony was grandly organized by the Kumar Gandharva Foundation at Atal Smriti Udyan Hall in Borivali, Mumbai. On this occasion, renowned singer Pandit Sudhakar Chavan from Pune was honored with the 21st Kumar Gandharva National Award by Captain Mohan Naik. Amidst the thunderous applause of thousands of spectators, Pandit Chavan received the award along with ₹51,000 cash, a shawl, a coconut, and a citation. The event was also supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Pandit Sudhakar Chavan is a celebrated classical musician of the Kirana Gharana. He is the founder of Kalashree Sangeet Academy, Pune’s oldest and largest Hindustani music academy. Pandit Chavan has performed at several music festivals worldwide, including the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, and is a recognized artist of All India Radio.

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In the world of classical music, Pandit Kumar Gandharva is a legendary name. Born on 8 April 1924 in a Kannada-speaking Lingayat family in Sulebhavi near Belgaum, Karnataka, his real name was Shivaputra Siddaramayya Komkalimath, but he came to be known as Kumar Gandharva from childhood. He was known for his unique singing style and for not being bound to any gharana tradition. Most of his life was spent in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, where he passed away in 1992.

Kumar Gandharva experimented with other forms of singing like Nirguni Bhajans, folk songs, and ragas, often moving from fast to slow compositions within a single raga. He is remembered for his innovative legacy, which questioned tradition without completely rejecting it, giving rise to music deeply rooted in Indian culture, especially the folk music of Madhya Pradesh. His innovative approach to music led to the creation of new ragas through combinations of older ones.

Kumar Gandharva’s musical philosophy is carried forward by his children Mukul Shivaputra and Kalapini Komkalimath, along with his disciples. One of his disciples, Parmanand Yadav, founded the Kumar Gandharva Foundation.

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Parmanand Yadav, the founder, trustee, and singer of the Kumar Gandharva Foundation, needs no introduction. Born on 1 January 1963 in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, he joined the Department of Music at Banaras Hindu University in 1983 and earned a Doctor of Music (Vocal) in 1993. During this time, he was also a disciple of the late Kumar Gandharva. After that, he moved to Mumbai with his tanpura, pursuing classical music performances across India and abroad. He has performed in festivals such as the five-day Sankat Mochan Music Festival in Banaras, Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha, Allahabad Mahakumbh, Raj Bhavans in Kolkata and Bhopal, Mangaldham Temple Kolkata, Vice President House, New Delhi, Shri Krishna Bhavan, Ghaziabad, festivals in Lucknow, Varanasi, Pune, Patna, Miraj, Goa, Mumbai, and many more. He has performed programs on Kabir, Raidas, Meera, Savitribai Phule, and his albums are also available in the market.

Parmanand Yadav says, “I am certainly inspired by my predecessors, including Jaydev, Sharangdev, Amir Khusro, Gopal Nayak, Swami Haridas, Tansen, Baiju Bawra, Sadarang-Adarang, Balakrishna Bua Ichalkaranjikar, Pandit Ramkrishna Wazhe, Abdul Karim Khan, Inayat Khan, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, Baba Alauddin Khan, Pandit Kumar Gandharva, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Following this tradition, I established the Kumar Gandharva Foundation in Mumbai—a commercial city, often called a sea of people—to honor great artists of Hindustani and Carnatic music with the Kumar Gandharva National Award every year. I am not merely an organizer, but a passionate singer. I have mastered several dozen ragas and presented them across the country. Indeed, caste in India is a curse that prevents many talented individuals from emerging, but my guru, Pandit Kumar Gandharva, blessed me when I left Dewas, saying, ‘You have come to me for a short time, but if you persevere, you will achieve everything in life.’ His knowledge and blessings accompany me. I continue my rigorous practice tirelessly, focusing solely on my music, like Arjuna aiming at the eye of a fish. As a Yadav, I get fewer stages, but I will maintain my discipline and emerge as a great master of melody.”

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The event began with Asitha Kramdhari and Trupti Rajpariya performing in Raga Yaman, singing “Ari Ari Aali Piya Bin…” and “Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan…” Following this, the Foundation’s president, Parmanand Yadav, presented tarana in Raga Kedaar and Raga Bhupali, with compositions taught by Kumar Gandharva, including “Motiyan Mala Tod Dai Ri” and the Nirguni bhajan “Naiharwa Hamka Na Bhave.”

The accompanying artists included Gurshant Singh (tabla), Tanmay Mistry (harmonium), and tanpura players Anuj Sharma, Sneha Gawas, Sumit Raut. Pandit Sudhakar Chavan won hearts with Bada Khayal, Chhota Khayal, and Abhang in Raga Marubihag, accompanied by Pandit Vishwas Jadhav (tabla), Gangadhar Tukaram Shinde (harmonium), Raghunath Raut (manjira), and vocal support from disciples Shivanand Swami and Namdev Shinde.

The annual award ceremony was graced by distinguished guests and showcased cultural richness. Notable guests included Dr. Vidya Gauri Gokhale, Captain C.L. Dubey, Dr. Gulabchand Yadav, Ravishankar Singh, along with Professor Balasaheb Suryavanshi of Gandharva College Board and social worker M. Anant Raman. The program was beautifully conducted by Dr. Gautami Patil. Despite poor weather in Mumbai, the hall was packed with art, culture, and journalism enthusiasts.

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For the past 28 years, Parmanand Yadav, as founder, trustee, and president of the Kumar Gandharva Foundation, has been honoring legendary artists of Hindustani and Carnatic music while also providing a platform for emerging talent. Trustees Chandrawati Yadav, Chetan Sawant, and Sanjeet Yadav extended thanks to all the dignitaries present.

Translated By Priyanka Yadav