Shree A P Paraman Bhagavathar, Ayalur, Palakkad
(Born
on Wednesday 15th , June, 1927 & Expired on Friday 26th May, 2017)
Ayiloor
Shri A P Paraman Bhagavathar, was a much-admired Carnatic singer cum music teacher from Ayalur, Palakkad.
As a finely famed performing artist of Carnatic Classical music he is revered
as an active celebrity in the village and was significantly a senior! Born in
1927, the year in which broadcasting started in India, Bhagavathar was near to
his ‘Navathi’ now (the 90th year!) when I wrote this blog, with his date of birth falling on June 15th
Wednesday. Ayalur in Nemmara of Palghat District (Kerala) was his native village
and he belonged to the Pathiyam Veedu situated in Ayalur Desham
(Padinharathara). His mother Late Smt. Bhargavi Amma of Pathiyam family, a
prominent personality in the family circle was a house-wife and father Shri
Karunakaran Master (late) was a Teacher in Rajah’s High School,
Kollangode.
‘Ponnan
Bhagavathar’ (as he was passionately called in his close circles), the beloved
Musician of Ayalur Dehsam, was born as the fourth kid but second son in his
family with one elder and two younger brothers, three elder sisters along with
one younger sister as his siblings. His personality is marked by the general
characteristics of sensible lushness, splendour and achievement reflecting the
glorious attributes of Jyeshtha Nakshatra which is his star of birth as per
Indian Astrology. APB was blessed with three daughters and one son. The eldest
is Smt. Hemalatha (Valsa) followed by her sisters Smt. Sushama and Smt. Santhi.
The youngest among the siblings is Shri. Pradeep, staying in Nemmara. Shri.
Vignesh Ram (Vinu), Smt. Varishtaja Praveen (Hyderabad), Kumari Advaita and
Master Pragath are his grandchildren.
(Ayalur Mannam Shree Kurumba Bhagavthy Temple)
Popularly
titled as ‘Ayalur Paraman Bhagavathar’, APB was well known among native music
lovers for his conventional devotional vocal skills. During the talk he remembered his early
childhood attempts to volubly sing the then popular drama songs, especially of
popular devotional items in the dance-dramas. These exposing exercises with his
natural and distinctive way of singing aloud the contemporary devotional lyrics
and dance-drama jingles helped him get noticed of his innate talents by his
Teachers as well as well-wishers. Later he got guided and initiated to learn
Carnatic Music by Late Shri Sreenivasa Iyer of Vadakumchery (his first Guru)
and thereafter from Shri Ayalur Akhileshwara Iyer. Bhagavathar keeps the fond
memory of participating once in the seasonal ‘Thiruvayyar music festival’ in
Tamil Nadu, when he accompanied his Guru to visit the native place of most
worldwide worshiped 'Nadabrahmam Thyagaraja Bhagavathar' (one among the
trinities in South Indian Classical Music). Having started his career at the
young age of ten, he touched a broad spectrum of sixty six years in music and
its vibes, during his lifetime.
Bhagavathar Shri APB
with his friend Shri S.A.Sankaran Embranthiri,
Akhileshwara Temple Priest (Retrd.)
& Smt. Saraswathi Sankaran (Teacher, Retrd., GUPS, Ayalur),
accompanied by Grand-daughters Kum.Advaita & Kum.Varishtaja
APB was proud to mention the significance of singing Carnatic Lyrics
with a thorough awareness of its meaning as well. Like any other Classical
Music Companion, his career too got established with his run-through
‘background-singer’ roles in contemporary stage-dramas like Vallithirumanam.
Also Temple Katcheries (Music Concerts in Temples) and Music festivals added
energy and splendor to his Musical life as well as achievements. Apart from
Malayalam, he also gathered special skill in voicing multi-lingual Classical
lyrics, especially songs of all time musical masters from Telugu, Kannada,
Sanskrit, Tamil as well as Hindi.
Bhagavathar’s profession as a ‘Music Teacher’ got him eternally elated to have a wealth of disciples in Carnatic Music, from various walks of life in and around Kerala like Advocates, Doctors, Police, Chartered Accountants etc. The noted names include Shri P K Seshadreeswaran (Manager, SBI, Palakkad), Pallavur Shri Appu Marar, and son Shri Chandran, Shri Sreedharan (son of Manian Marar), Santhosh (son of Kunhukuttan Marar) etc.
Bhagavathar’s
singing was identified to keep a touch of perfection and later his passion in
Carnatic Music found its way out as he started teaching music aspirants in and
around Ayalur village, helping aspiring singers to get access to the essential
knowledge of classical music and fulfill the pure joy of singing!
Bhagavathar’s profession as a ‘Music Teacher’ got him eternally elated to have a wealth of disciples in Carnatic Music, from various walks of life in and around Kerala like Advocates, Doctors, Police, Chartered Accountants etc. The noted names include Shri P K Seshadreeswaran (Manager, SBI, Palakkad), Pallavur Shri Appu Marar, and son Shri Chandran, Shri Sreedharan (son of Manian Marar), Santhosh (son of Kunhukuttan Marar) etc.
Closest of the Family with APB's KITH & KIN |
(West
View, Towards Mannam, Padinharethara, Ayalur)
Paraman
Bhagavathar, the saintly soul was well accepted by the people of Ayalur Desham
as their best guide and well-wisher in their day-to-day life. They did honour him
lately and shared their joy by organizing his ‘satabhisheka’ event which was
celebrated with all the paraphernalia, at Ayalur NSS Karayogam Hall, near Shree Kurumba Bhagavthy Temple.
Honors:
Government of Kerala established Kerala Folklore Academy
(http://keralafolkloreakademy.com) honoured him in 2011. Also in recognition to
his contributions the state Government did extend him a monthly financial
assistance under the scheme ‘Kerala Kalakara Pension’ (specially sanctioned for
‘eminent men of art and letters’). Along with other living lights of
traditional Music, Shri Paraman Bhagavathar was reckoned as one of the senior most
living grace of Traditional Carnatic Music in Kerala. Long live Music and
Masters like him! His demise happened on Friday, 26th May, 2017.
|| ॐ || Sreerasthu Subhamasthu || ॐ ||
***********
Shri Paraman Bhagavathar can be contacted
through his son Shri Pradeep M Mallath at Mobile: (+91) 9497522900
or Shri Vignesh Ram (Vinu) at +91
9946254436 (Grandson).
Facebook Contact: https://www.facebook.com/bhagavatharparaman
Contact Email: vigneshrammallath@gmail.com