AN EPITOME OF HUMILITY AND HEAVENLY MUSIC - PADMASHRI AWARDEE Pt.M.VENKATESH KUMAR

An epitome of humility and politeness, Padmashri Awardee Pandit M. Venkatesh Kumar

Born on 1 July 1953 @ Lakshmipura in the Dharwad region of northern Karnataka, Pandit M. Venkatesh Kumar is Hindustani classical vocalist. Also renowned globally for his husk, vibrant classical singing style, he’s equally at ease and popular in singing Dasara Padas & Devotional songs.

Venkatesh Kumar's father late Huleppa was a folk singer/leather puppet artist. In 1968, when he was 12, Kumar was taken by his uncle Sri Belagallu Veeranna to the Veereshwara Punyashrama in Gadag (central Karnataka), run by Puttaraja Gawai, the religious saint and Hindustani musician. Kumar lived and learned at the ashram for the next 12 years.

Though he admits to the influences beyond other gharanas, notable among them being Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana,  Kumar unremittingly learnt Hindustani vocal in the Gwalior and Kirana gharana styles under Gawai, blending these styles effortlessly in his presentations, His guru was also trained in Carnatic music and as a result, there are traces of Carnatic elements – especially in his sargam patterns – in Pandit Kumar’s music

14 years after leaving the ashram, Kumar got his first major break in 1993, receiving a telegram-invitation from the Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi to perform at the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav in Pune that year. He had established a significant local reputation by then, but the performance in Sawai was the first step towards national exposure. However, he had to wait for another decade before he became a regular on the national festival circuit. Since then he has featured in many National musical programs, and has been an "A" grade Artist of All India Radio since 1988.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was asked whom he would like to listen to, on the occasion of  Maharashtra Government conferring the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan award’ in 2002, his first choice was Ustad Rashid Khan whose unavailability to perform pitch forked Pt.Kumar as his immediate choice. Such is the power behind Kumarji’s music.

Venkatesh kumar is gifted with a rarest blend of mellifluous, robust vibrant voice - rich in tradition and deep in devotion. His vast experience, innovativeness and deep-rooted commitment have made him a name to reckon with through his performances  at all major music festivals in India and abroad.

Pt Kumar is most acclaimed for his Kannada vachana and dasara pada renditions in devotional music. Most Popular ones include "smarane saalade" of Nada Varshini Album. He also has also cut multiple Devotional and Classical CD albums to his credit.

Pandit Kumar held a teaching job at the University College of Music, Dharwad till recently. This commitment regularly forced him turn down concerts, but he refused to quit the job that offered him stability at a time when concerts were hard to come by. He also received a post graduate degree in music from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.

If there’s to be someone so deserving for the prestigious Padma Award, it ought to be Pandit M.Venkatesh Kumar and we Kannadigas feel elated and honored ourselves as the Nation salutes him in awe of his dedication, devotion and commitment to lift music to parochial heights.

He has authored the text book of Music prescribed for the Examination conducted by the Govt. of Karnataka. Sri Venkatesh Kumar served as a faculty member at Music College, Dharwad University and taught Music to degree classes. Currently under retirement from the job, he is the proud recipient of several titles namely:

1. Swarashree

2. Sangeet Sudhakara

2. Sangeeta Ratna

3. Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (1999)

3. Karnataka Sangeet Natya Academy Award (2007)

4. Vatsala Bhimsen Joshi Award 2008

5. Krishna Hangal Award (2009)

6. Kendra Sangeeth Nataka Akademi Award (2012)

7. Honorary Doctorate from Karnataka University,

    Dharwad (2014)

8. Swara Laya Samrat (2014)

9. Padma Sri Award by Government of India (2016)

Our Nation has many such proud sons. Honoring these great men who have turned their lives into live examples by legendary herculean efforts through utmost dedication, fighting poverty and lack of education. We, the Nation honor ourselves by honoring these men of steely resolve and utmost humility. 

It's matter of great pride for me listening to his heavenly music for more than 3 decades. He's travelling to Sirsi for a concert while I called, but sooner he reverted to me on bang to accept my hearty wishes. Such humility from an Iconic person floored me. May their tribe grow in zillions.

PADMA VIBHUSHAN DR.MALLIKARJUNA MANSUR TRIBUTE 'CHIRANTAN" @ BANGALORE CANARA UNION ENTHRALS

‘Pune based NEW AGE FOUNDATION & DEPARTMENT OF KANNADA & CULTURE IN KARNATAKA jointly conducted a simple yet meaningful felicitation in honor of Padmashri Awardee Pandit Sri M.Venkatesh Kumar last Sunday, 20 March 2016 under the aegis of Pune based NEW AGE FOUNDATION @ Canara Union, Malleswaram, Bangalore.

Both 19 & 20 March evenings, venue was jam packed by connoisseurs of music, witnessing concerts by names to reckon, renowned Sarod exponent from New Delhi, Pt.Biswajit Roy Chowdury, Celebrated Vocalist Pt.Ganapathi Bhat Hasanagi from Sirsi, Karnataka & Vidushi Aditi Upadhye. I felt damn lucky to attend back to back vocal concerts by Pandita Priyadarshini Kulkarni & Padmashri 2016 Awardee, our own Pt.M.Venkatesh Kumar on 20 March though.

Pandita Priyadarshini Kulkarni’s New Age Foundation, Pune jointly organized this memorable musical tribute CHIRANTAN' to Hindustani Music Doyen Padma Vibhushan Late Mallikarjun Mansur in a befitting manner. She regaled the audience first by evening raga Behag followed by sonorous Niyathi Kanada presentation. Aptly accompanied her on Tabla and Harmonium were M/s Gurumurthy Vaidya and Anirban Chakroborthy. 

Also stood released on the occasion by Padmashri M.Venkateshkumar & dignitaries to her credit, was a CD pack comprising of Morning & Evening Raagas rendered by Pandita Priyadarshini Kulkarni.

What followed later was vocal rendition by Pt.Venkatesh Kumar who virtually brings in so much of magnetism by his purity of music filled with devotion, gayaki ang and the tehrav in awe. 

If there’s a vocalist-musician holding sway on the audience wherever performed, it’s  to be none other than him. His music automatically connects to the audience so well. Raag Chayanat, Basant Bahar, Late Mansur’s favorite  ‘Akka Kelavva’ and the ever popular number on my request ‘Toredu Jeevisa Bahudhe”, his Vachana gayana enthralled the audience no end. M/s Keshav Joshi on Tabla and Anirban Chakroborthy on Harmonium very appropriately accompanied him. 

Humility personified & such a towering performer, Pt.Venkatesh Kumar deserves much more than what’s bestowed upon, for making musical inroads all over the globe. To me his Godly Gayaki directly descends from heaven as he weaves a magical web by his difficult taans made look simpler in presentation and the audience too won’t settle for his lesser either..! The magnificence of his singing is simply electrifying.

So as his wont, Sri Vijayendra Athanikar lent a meaningful prologue to the invited audience both days. A word of appreciation must go to Pandita Priyadarshini Kulkarni, who not only performs but also carries lot of ethos & understanding for musical roots she inculcated from the Rich Jaipur Atrouli Gharana. 

Her earnest effort to felicitate the cynosure of all eyes, Pt.Venkatesh Kumar had to be on a high note and those present were neither disappointed by the enthusiastic response. Her accomplices including the Canara Union office bearers will have to be surely patted for hosting such a commendable event.

Special thanks must go to other accompanying artistes giving sath to all musicians including my friend Tabla Nawaz Sri Rajendra Nakod.


I personally gained two more kind musically oriented persons in well-known & affable Sarod Exponent Pt.Biswajit Roy Chowdury and Sri Rajneesh Atre, an avid photographer and Senior Physics Professor from Indore who also delves on musicology once in a while – some of the photographs flashed here are his courtesy. Can you imagine, so passionate Sri Atre travels to most places just to cover these concerts. Truly  blessed we are if such quality music recurs over and again.