Tripunithura Krishnadas
Encyclopedia
M A Krishnadas, also known as Tripunithura Krishnadas among his fans, is an India
n musician. He is a well-known edaykkya (or Idakka
) and chenda
artist from Kerala
in the age of eight. He has been accompanying world renowned singers and dancers since then.
M A Krishnadas was the first person to make edaykkya this simple to public and the first to introduce the instrument in the western field of music at a time when it was considered a taboo. He can play the instrument in any genres of music including classical, jazz, pop, western, etc. He is associated with the western troupes like Atma, Kochi
and “The Banned”, Chennai
and has performed in their albums and various stage shows, apart from the humongous number of other classical and non classical troupes or bands.
“It might not be off-beamed if I say Tripunithura Krishnadas is the single most Edaykkya player who plays the instrument in the most melodious and heart touching manner of all the players in this world”, are the words of Padma Bhushan
Dr. K. J. Yesudas
who in the early 80s discovered the talent in this gifted artist and mentored him all along. It might not come as a surprise that if the singer is Dr. Yesudas, then the sound of edaykkya will be from Krishnadas.
in the year 1996.
He has been associated with the Doordarshan and Akashavani through various programmes for over 30 years; he is a “Grade A” Edaykkya artist in Doordarshan
and Akashavani.
Krishnadas has rendered edaykkya recital as a solo as well as an accompanying instrument in 3000+ cassettes and over 60 Malayalam films, a unique achievement among the contemporary edaykkya artists.
He is a regular participant of International Music festival at Paris
, held every summer along with being an honoured senior edaykkya artist to participate in the Annual Chembai Music Festival (also called Chembai Sangeetholsavam
) held every Nov-Dec in the holy shrine of Guruvayoor every year. Most recently, Krishnadas has been bestowed with the prestigious Pallavur Appu Marar Award, the most profound honour given by the Indian state of Kerala
for the excellence in the field of development of Kerala instruments.
In January 2011, the Govt of Kerala
conferred this gifted artist with the highest accolade for an instrument artist at the state level "Pallavur
Appu Marar Award", which is a testimony recognition for the talent in this artist.
Recently, the Kanchi Ashram of Sree Sankaracharya recognized his talent by giving him the title of Aasthana Vidwan, (presiding artist).
His most notable rendition is in the 1993 Malayalam super hit Devasuram
where in Oduvil Unnikrishnan
plays the instrument and sing a song to the ailing hero. The original score was sung by the Late M. G. Radhakrishnan
, famous music director of Kerala, with Krishnadas playing edaykkya, eloquently as always, which made Krishndas very popular in the Kerala film industry and brought him huge accolade. This is still regarded as a masterpiece among the music fraternity in the Malayalam film industry.
Krishnadas is a highly gifted artist, and perhaps the only artist who can play edaykkya with any genre of music, Carnatic classical, Hindustani, Pop, western, Jazz. You name it he can render his magical sounds any where anytime.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n musician. He is a well-known edaykkya (or Idakka
Idakka
The idakka , also spelt edaykka, is an hourglass-shaped drum from Kerala in south India. This handy percussion instrument is very similar to the pan-Indian damaru. While the damaru is played by rattling knotted cords against the resonators, the idakka is played with a stick...
) and chenda
Chenda
The Chenda is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as Chande....
artist from Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
Music career
Krishnadas was inducted into this field since the age of five under the tutorship of Late Ramamangalam Rama Marar. Since then he has been in this field of art and music. Krishnadas had his first stage performance at Tripunithura Sree Poornathrayesa TempleSree Poornathrayesa temple
Sree Poornathrayesa temple is situated in Tripunithura, Kochi, the capital of the former Kingdom of Cochin.The temple is very famous in our kerala and also india....
in the age of eight. He has been accompanying world renowned singers and dancers since then.
M A Krishnadas was the first person to make edaykkya this simple to public and the first to introduce the instrument in the western field of music at a time when it was considered a taboo. He can play the instrument in any genres of music including classical, jazz, pop, western, etc. He is associated with the western troupes like Atma, Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
and “The Banned”, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and has performed in their albums and various stage shows, apart from the humongous number of other classical and non classical troupes or bands.
“It might not be off-beamed if I say Tripunithura Krishnadas is the single most Edaykkya player who plays the instrument in the most melodious and heart touching manner of all the players in this world”, are the words of Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
Dr. K. J. Yesudas
K. J. Yesudas
Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,...
who in the early 80s discovered the talent in this gifted artist and mentored him all along. It might not come as a surprise that if the singer is Dr. Yesudas, then the sound of edaykkya will be from Krishnadas.
Awards and recognitions
Krishnadas is the recipient of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy award in the year of 1992 for the best edaykkya artist in the state also received Junior fellowship from the Government of IndiaGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in the year 1996.
He has been associated with the Doordarshan and Akashavani through various programmes for over 30 years; he is a “Grade A” Edaykkya artist in Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
and Akashavani.
Krishnadas has rendered edaykkya recital as a solo as well as an accompanying instrument in 3000+ cassettes and over 60 Malayalam films, a unique achievement among the contemporary edaykkya artists.
He is a regular participant of International Music festival at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, held every summer along with being an honoured senior edaykkya artist to participate in the Annual Chembai Music Festival (also called Chembai Sangeetholsavam
Chembai Sangeetholsavam
Chembai Sangeetholsavam is an annual Carnatic music festival held in Guruvayur by the Guruvayur Devaswom as a kind of homage to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, one of the titans of Carnatic Classical Music....
) held every Nov-Dec in the holy shrine of Guruvayoor every year. Most recently, Krishnadas has been bestowed with the prestigious Pallavur Appu Marar Award, the most profound honour given by the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
for the excellence in the field of development of Kerala instruments.
In January 2011, the Govt of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
conferred this gifted artist with the highest accolade for an instrument artist at the state level "Pallavur
Pallavur
Pallavur is situated in Pallassena Panchayat, Chittur Taluk, Palakkad district of Kerala. It is 20 km away from Palakkad town, on the way to Nemmara. This place is famous for its Siva Temple and the traditional keralite percussion maestros, late Pallavur Trio, who were synonymous with the...
Appu Marar Award", which is a testimony recognition for the talent in this artist.
Recently, the Kanchi Ashram of Sree Sankaracharya recognized his talent by giving him the title of Aasthana Vidwan, (presiding artist).
His most notable rendition is in the 1993 Malayalam super hit Devasuram
Devasuram
Devaasuram is a 1993 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. The rivalry between Mangalassery Neelakantan and Mundakkal Shekaran is the main theme of the film. It was one of the most successful Malayalam films of all time and the story, dialogues, and characters have...
where in Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan was an award winning Malayalam movie actor known for his versatile acting skills, known for his portrayal of classical ancient aristocratic personalities in Malayalam cinema with his unique provincial linguistic style, expressions and dialect. He was noted as a serious as well...
plays the instrument and sing a song to the ailing hero. The original score was sung by the Late M. G. Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan was a senior music director and Carnatic vocalist from Kerala. He is highly regarded as one of the most successful light music and film music composer in Malayalam.- Personal life :M. G...
, famous music director of Kerala, with Krishnadas playing edaykkya, eloquently as always, which made Krishndas very popular in the Kerala film industry and brought him huge accolade. This is still regarded as a masterpiece among the music fraternity in the Malayalam film industry.
Krishnadas is a highly gifted artist, and perhaps the only artist who can play edaykkya with any genre of music, Carnatic classical, Hindustani, Pop, western, Jazz. You name it he can render his magical sounds any where anytime.
External links
- http://video.webindia123.com/interviews/musician/krishnadas/krishnadas/index.html
- http://www.breezemagic.net/forum/index.php?topic=10976.0
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU-XlDQTepM