Ravindra Yavagal Explained

Ravindra Yavagal
Birth Date:1959
Birth Place:Karnataka, India
Occupation:Tabla player
Employer:All India Radio
Children:2

Pandit[1] [2] Ravindra Yavagal (born 1959) is an Indian tabla player, performer and music teacher from the state of Karnataka. An eminent artiste,[3] he is both a soloist and an accompanist. He received Rajyotsava Award in 1995, Karnataka Kalashri for 2016–17 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2021 for his contributions.

Early life

Ravindra Yavagal was born in 1959[4] in a Kannadiga family to Ramachandra Yavagal and Parvathi Bai. Ramachandra was also a tabla player; he learnt tabla despite objections from his family.[5] He hails from Dharwad district of Karnataka.

Career

Yavagal started learning tabla at the age of 4 from his father, later from Veeranna Kamkar of Gayathri Gayana Shaala in Hubli and further vigorous training from Sheshagiri Hanagal. Lalji Gokhale mentored Yavagal. At the age of 10, he performed at Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in Kundgol where he was accompanied by Appa Jalgaonkar.

Following the death of Yavagal's father, he started receiving more opportunities to perform tabla. A year later, he started hosting baithaks (musical gatherings) at his residence in Hubli and dedicated the events to his father. According to him, when his family moved to Bangalore, he was unable to host the baithaks for about an year and only resumed in 2000 when he was able to find a bigger accommodating house in Bangalore's suburb of Jakkur.

In 1980s, he joined All India Radio, the national public radio broadcaster of India., he works there as a grade one artist.

Music concerts

Yavagal played tabla in India and as well as internationally at music concerts – solo performances and also accompanied hundreds of instrumentalists and vocalists including several prominent artistes the likes of Ajoy Chakrabarty, Basavaraj Rajguru, Bhimsen Joshi, C. R. Vyas, Gangubai Hangal, Jasraj, Mallikarjun Mansur, Parveen Sultana, Rajan and Sajan Mishra and Salamat Ali Khan.[6]

He also played in the concerts of Carnatic music maestros including M. Balamuralikrishna, T. N. Krishnan, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman among others. Starting his career at an early age allowed him to work with artistes stretching five generations.

Charitable activities

Yavagal, along with his friends, founded Sri Rama Kala Vedike Trust in 2006 in the memory of his father. The trust promotes Indian classical music, aid young artists with scholarships and provides financial help to artists in need. It also organizes various music concerts and festivals[7] including an annual musical fest "Naada Namana" in the memory of Ramachandra Yavagal. Ravindra acts as the managing trustee.[8] He also volunteers in organizing medical help for musicians in need of help and facilitates artistes.

Teaching

Yavagal teaches tabla at his music school in Bangalore. Several of his students went on to become music teachers and performers, including Praveen D. Rao[9] and . According to vocalist Vinayak Torvi, Yavagal's school lies on the lines of Kallusakkare gharana.

Reception

Yavagal's play is described as having admirable clarity and a balance in the approach of beating the drums with both hands. Lalith J. Rao, an eminent Hindustani classical singer of the Agra gharana style, described Yavagal as "[a person who] is born for the tabla [and who] lives and breathes the tabla". His plays where he accompanied are generally received favourably by critics and connoisseurs alike.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Awards

Yavagal received several honours. In 1995, the Government of Karnataka awarded him the Rajyotsava Award, the second highest civilian award of Karnataka.[15] Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy has conferred him with Karnataka Kalashri, a lifetime award, for the year 2016–17.[16] The Government of India honoured him with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, country's highest award in arts,[17] for the year 2021.

Personal life

Yavagal is married to Suvarna and has two sons – Kiran, also a tabla player, and Nayan, a singer. Kiran accompanies Ravindra at some of his performances.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 26 November 2022 . Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards announced . 29 December 2022 . Star of Mysore.
  2. Web site: C. S. Sarvamangala . 20 December 2019 . Yavagal: Tabla maestro at 60 . 29 December 2022 . . en.
  3. News: 26 November 2016 . Pt. Yavagal chosen for Ustad Balekhan Award . en-IN . . 29 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  4. Web site: Ananth . Ambika . 22 August 2015 . A champion of solo gigs . 29 December 2022 . . en.
  5. Web site: Vasudev . Chetana Divya . 20 December 2014 . Kala Shrunga for Shahid Pervez . 29 December 2022 . The New Indian Express.
  6. News: Ramani . Chitra V. . 20 August 2016 . Students to honour their guru Ravindra Yavagal on Sunday . en-IN . . 29 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  7. News: 20 May 2022 . Naada Namana music festival on May 21, 22 . en-IN . . 29 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  8. Web site: Raju . Sowmya . 19 May 2022 . Musical fete returns after a two-year hiatus . 29 December 2022 . . en.
  9. Web site: Chandaraju . Aruna . 7 August 2022 . Synergies between the notes . 29 December 2022 . . en.
  10. News: Ganesh . Deepa . 27 November 2010 . Evocative moments . en-IN . . 30 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  11. News: C. S. Sarvamangala . 12 February 2015 . Subliminal music . en-IN . . 30 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  12. News: 11 June 2015 . Captivating melodies . en-IN . . 30 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  13. News: Ganesh . Deepa . 13 April 2017 . Literature of the heart.... . en-IN . . 30 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  14. News: Suryanarayan . Renuka . 22 November 2018 . 'Raag appeals more to Chennai rasikas,' says Sarod artiste Arnab Chakrabarty . en-IN . . 30 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  15. Web site: Arakal . Ralph Alex . 28 October 2020 . Karnataka: 60 personalities, 5 organisations to be conferred with Rajyotsava Prashasti on Nov 7 . 29 December 2022 . . en.
  16. News: 12 August 2016 . 18 artistes chosen for Karnataka Kalashree awards . en-IN . . 29 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  17. News: 20 July 2019 . Sangeet Natak Akademi Award to UoH professor . en-IN . . 29 December 2022 . 0971-751X.
  18. News: Govind . Ranjani . 14 April 2016 . Bengaluru remembers Venkatesh Godkhindi . en-IN . . 29 December 2022 . 0971-751X.