Ramesh Narayan

Early life

Ramesh Narayan was born in Kuthuparambu, Kannur, Kerala in a family of Carnatic musicians. He thad his early lessons in music from his parents. His father Narayan Bhagavathar was a well-known musician of those days and his mother Narayani Amma was blessed with priceless Swarashuddhi (Purity of Swar). The musical ambience in Ramesh Narayan’s family during his early childhood left a lasting impression on him and he, as a child, yearned to learn more and continued his training in Carnatic music up to the age of twenty years.

It was while he was a student of Government Music College, Chitoor, that he was deeply drawn to Hindustani music and decided to dedicate himself to mastering it. Nevertheless, his desire to learn Hindustani music would not have had this kind of fulfillment, but, for the profound interest and initiative taken by his Pune-based elder brother Sri. Ramdas to introduce Ramesh Narayan to the city of Pune, the seat of performing arts, pure music and culture.

Career

Moving to Pune, he learnt Sitar under the tutelage of Shri. Satchidananda Phadke, a renowned disciple of the Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Becoming a competent Sitarist in no time, Ramesh Narayan found himself captivated by Hindustani vocal. He joined the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and took his "Visharad" with high distinction. He felt entranced by the passionately evocative style of Parampoojya Guruji, Padma Vibhushan,Sangeeth Martand, Pandit Jasraj and resolved to hone his talent and technique under the Mewati Gharana Maestro. Pandit Jasrajji gave him rigorous training for more than seven years in the subtler aspects of music, in traditional Gurukula style. Ramesh Narayan accompanied Pandit Jasraj during several of his concerts.

One of his feats is a 30-hour concert he gave in dedication of his father and guru, the late Narayana Bhagavathar, and to Pandit Motiram, an exponent of the Mewati gharana.

He has composed and rendered music for several feature films and television serials like "Gharshom", "Elayum Mullum", "Magrib", "Megh Malhar", "Makalkku", "Anyar", "Sheelabati" directed by well-known Indian directors.

Personal life

Ramesh Narayan is accompanied at many of his concerts by Hema, his wife and disciple. She is an exponent in Carnatic music who is also fortunate to have trained under Parampoojya Guruji Pandit Jasrajji for some time. Ramesh Narayan is also blessed with two daughters, Madhuvanti and Madhushree who also follow their father's footsteps. Ramesh Narayan established the Pandit Mothiram Narayan Sangeeth Vidyalay in 1996, at Thiruvananthapuram to foster learning and appreciation of Hindustani Classical Music. Inaugurated by Parampoojya, Guruji, Pandit.Jasraj, the institution today imparts valuable training and insights to many discerning students. Branches exist at Kozhikode, Kochi, Thrissur in Kerala and at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The school also holds the privilege of being the only school in India associated with Mewati Gharana.

They wrote about him

Pandit Jasraj - Today the number of your disciples and followers is legion. In whichpart of India do you find the maximum?

Ans: All over India. One of my disciples Ramesh Narayan, is from Kerala, He isvery good and runs three school in Trivandrum, Ernakulam and Palghat.The Hindu 16 January 2005.

Ramesh Narayan, the popular Malayalam singer recently released a cher-ished dream and rode his name in to the book of world records when he sang continuously without a break for 30 hours.

Screen 28 October 1994, Mumbai

The stupendous effort which may gain Ramesh Narayan a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records....

The Week 23 October 1994.

It is not often that an artist from Kerala opts for Hindustani music as against the more accessible Carnatic style and this makes Narayan’s per-formance significant.

Indian Express 8 January 1995, Chennai

Ramesh Narayan belongs to the rare genre of musicians who are not only well versed in the art and craft of their choice but also well informed of its social, cultural and philosophical dimensions.

The Hindu 4 October 1996, Kochi.

There is an element of individual artistic insight in his deep involvement with the raga’s moods and poetic contents.

Pioneer 29 March 1995, Delhi

Discography

Nandagopalam

Rudra

Mridumalhar

Ayyappa Sahasra Namam

Shivoham

Swati Manasam

Radheshyaam

Mridugeetham pole

Awards and achievements

"Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy Award

2012 for Indian classical music

Kerala State Film Awards:

2005 – Best Background Score - Saira

2006 – Best Music Director - Rathri Mazha

2014 – Best Music Director - White Boys

2015 – Best Music Director - Edavapathy & Ennu Ninte Moideen

Kerala state Television awards

2000 - Best Music Director -

2004 - Best Music Director - 'RAGARDHAM'

2006 - Best Music Director -

2012 - Best Music Director - Choodu

Kerala Film Critics Awards

2002 - Best Music Director - "Megha Malhar"

2006 - Best Music Director - Rathri Mazha

Kerala Critics TV Awards

2002 - Best Music Director - "Devaranjini"

2003 - Best Music Director -

"Madrid International Award"

2010 - Best Music Director -Veettilekullavazhi

Madrid International film festival Spain

"Goldenchakra" award for best music director - Paradesi

"Imagine India 2011 International Award"

2010 - Best Music Director -Veettilekullavazhi

Prem Nazir Foundation TV Awards

2010 - Best Music Director -

Film Audience Award

2005 - Best Music Director - 'Sheelabati' and 'Makallkku'

Mathrubhumi Medimix Film Award

2002 - Best Music Director - "Megha Malhar"

Entered Limca Book of Records 2014 for continuous vocal recital for 36 hours and has completed 24-hour raga cycle in accordance to the samay siddhant (Time Theory of Indian Ragas based on the swar and taal), at the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune on 19-20 Jan 2013.

Title ‘Nadha Kala Nipuna-2013’ by Ravindran School of Music, Chennai for his outstanding contribution to the world of music.

Title of 'Sangeet Mahayogi' by Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Foundation, on the occasion of 17th Gurupoornima Celebrations of Pandit Motiram Narayan Sangeet Vidyalay, at Levy Hall,Sree Krishnavilasom Palace, Trivandrum, Kerala, held 28 July 2012

"Acharya Varishtata" Award given to Pandit Rameshnarayan from Pandit Jasraj Institute Newyork- New Jersey on 10 July 2011. By Pandit Jasraj.

"Taan Samrat Award"from Bhavalaya Muscat 2011

"Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Puraskar" from Bharathiya Vidyalaya India 2011

2010 - 2006

"Leadership Award"from cultural Education Center ,New Jersey,United States-August 2009

"Sangeet Samraat" Award from Shikshayatan Cultural Center, Newyork - September 2008

"Sangeetha Puraskar" received by the Arts and Cultural Movement Of India - July 2008

Sree Chakra Puraskar 2006.

2005 - 2001

Virtuoso Award 2005 Chennai.

Virtuoso Award, Chennai 2005.

Nominated for the Raj Kamal Academy of Cinematic Excellence (Race National Award) known as V. Santharam Award,Mumbai.

John Abraham Award 2001.

2000 - 1994

Soma Award for the year 2000.

Honoured with the title- "Nada Chinthamani" in the year 1998 for his meritorious service to the cause of music.

Centre for Media Studies Buddha Award for the year 1998.

Akashavani Annual Award for the year 1997.

Nominated to the programme committee of the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur.

Director and Founder of Pandit Motiram Narayan Sangeeth Vidyalay, Kerala, the only Vidyalay in South Asia under Mewati Gharana.

A staff artiste of All India Radio, Kannur. Composed music for a number of films like "Gharshom", "Elayum Mullum", "Magrib", "Megh Malhar", "Makalkku", "Anyar", "Sheelabati" directed by well-known directors.

Sung and directed songs for national integration, produced by Jnanpith Laureate, Shri. M.T. Vasudevan Nair for Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad.

Entered into the Guinness Book of world records on 8 October 1994 for singing continuous 30 hour concert at the Soorya Dance & Music Festival 1994, Thiruvananthapuram.

Honoured by Parampoojya Guruji, Pandit Jasraj ji, at the Pandit Motiram Maniram Musical Festival, Hyderabad, November, 1994.