Vellore G Ramabhadran is no more

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:03

Noted mridanga vidwan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Vellore G Ramabhadran passed away this morning.

His sarva laghu style of playing endeared him to all the major vocalists and Semmangudi Mama called him "Nadabhadran".

May his soul rest in peace.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:08

Very sad to hear this.

Had been worried for many months, having never heard of any musical event featuring him. Besides, this being MMI's centenary, one expected his participation in events held in MMI's memory ...

Did not hear anything from other rasikas I know, also.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:13

Condolences. A huge loss to Carnatic Music.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:16

Very sad news ineed. I was wondering about his absence in the concert circuits the last December when I was in Chennai. He must have been ill for sometime. A great loss to the Carnatic music world.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:19

Sincere condolences. What a great loss!

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:20

Man !!!
What a range of artists he was associated with !
What a time span ! Starting from the earliest of the maestros , we have only heard of .
This was a Titan , in the truest of senses . Those soothing strokes were mesmerising , when we first heard him , with MMI on radios . And right till the end .

Like those before him , he goes elsewhere .Now to entertain the Gods .

ganeshkant · Post by **ganeshkant** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:49

A great loss indeed to CM.I very much liked his playing.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 27 Feb 2012, 10:53

Very sorry to hear this news. Sri VR was one of the legends of mridangam and a gentle giant!

Here is an old interview with him http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/ ... 582001.ece

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 27 Feb 2012, 11:41

What a loss to the carnatic world. ramabadhran mAmA always lets his mrudangam speak . His accompaniment was with a galaxy of musicians cutting across atleast 3 or even 4 full generations of musicians.

I personally have great memories talking with this greatest sarvalaghu master(few concerts where he played in kalakruthi where he gave few great memories of yesteryears like ARI and MMI, our rasikas concert where he played for young violinist Aishu ).

The hindu has splashed the news in online
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 937607.ece

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 27 Feb 2012, 12:22

A great vidwan he was! I remember how myself and my father used to interact with him in the Music academy canteen and just outside it-so many years back-mid 70s. Condolences to his family.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 27 Feb 2012, 12:27

Irreplaceable loss of a great vidvan. My condolences to the family.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Feb 2012, 12:37

What a blow for us all.

I last saw him, as rajesh mentions, playing for Aishu, and thought what a wonderful thing it was that this senior master was supporting a youngster. I'm sure she and her father will be shattered by this. Deep sympathy to them, and to all family, friends, students and admirers.

Had been worried for many months, having never heard of any musical event featuring him.

At least he was blessed with the ability to play at age 80+. What a wonderful thing music is, that it maintains not only the minds, of these elder musicians, but even the fingers.

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 27 Feb 2012, 13:23

What a loss...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... l1.3-1l2l0

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 27 Feb 2012, 14:21

Words can hardly convey my feelings for this master of sarva laghu. In his ways too, he was sarva laghu. One of those rare musicians who still remembered my uncle VVS with great regard and would talk to me as though all those decades between my childhood and senior years when we barely met did not matter at all. Would mention my grandmother, my young cousin who passed away in her prime.
Always sarva laghu, the master of sarva laghu...
And his professionalism!
I missed meeting him this season, missed the play of that certain smile on his otherwise tranquil face.One by one, the cherished old ones depart...

Condolences to kith, kin and students...

tkb · Post by **tkb** » 27 Feb 2012, 15:43

our condolences.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 27 Feb 2012, 16:11

Heartfelt Condolences. A great loss to Carnatic Music.
Thanjavooran 27 02 2012

eesha · Post by **eesha** » 27 Feb 2012, 16:35

In the current era of high decibel "power mrudangam", his gentle strokes and "sowkyam" oriented accompaniment will be missed. His accompaniment style will always remain a reference for the role of mrudangist.

My condolences.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 27 Feb 2012, 17:25

He enriched the world of carnatic music with his sensitive percussive technique..mourning his loss..

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 27 Feb 2012, 17:28

I'm deeply saddened. My namaskarams to him.

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 27 Feb 2012, 18:07

Shocking news.. Unable to think that he is no more.. Guess he must have been seriously ill, as his daughter came and read out his speech on his behalf at the PMI Centenary @ MA. Truly an end of another link to the Golden past.

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 27 Feb 2012, 18:40

http://www.mediafire.com/?vh7vo482pt9pgpr

Sarvalaghu ? VR had some other ideas for this day . Stage packed with Masters .

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 27 Feb 2012, 19:17

Great human being besides being a wonderful,consummate,artist--sensitive not only in his playing but in everyday life--never hurt a fly--never spoke ill of anyone despite occasional derisions about his Sarva laghu playing--'Give everyman thy ear but few thy voice--take each man's censure but reserve thy judgement (Hamlet)"--he epitomised the quote.

Known him for over 60 years right from his New Street home in Mylapore near Mandaveli in the late forties/fifties and then after he moved to his Chitrakulam house--hosted him in NY on his several tours with LGJ,Santhanam et al-- one of the most accommodating guests-no fuss,simple living,no demands.
While death is inevitable for all of us yet it is tough to reconcile with the death of a gentle soul like VR. Like many of us he had his own family challenges but never a lament about those challenges,unobtrusively stoic. Wonderful raconteur given his diverse playing experience--starting from ARI/Chembai/Musiri/MV era to the SSI-GNB-MMI-AB -Mali era to the KVN/MDR/,RK/BMK era to as recent as our dear forumite Aishu.

Heard of his indisposition from my brother when he gone to invite him for the PMI centenary celebs in Chennai but did not realise the end was so near--deeply regret not having met him during my recent short trip to Chennai. He was very close to myself,my wife and children.

Heartfelt condolences to the family.

May his soul rest in peace.

So many reminiscences -too overwhelmed now to narrate.Perhaps later.

Condolences to his family

Murali · Post by **Murali** » 27 Feb 2012, 19:35

A great loss! Saddened by this news. Condolences to his family.

Haribabu · Post by **Haribabu** » 27 Feb 2012, 20:14

Very sad and Shocking news .

A simple and humble personality made him reachable every one. He has played for my son Master VinayRahul in Narada ganasabha two and half years ago . In a very short time , 3 years of our association made memorable and we always spoken in Telugu as his family members speak in Telugu too..His advices to Vinay in succeeding as a solo violinist are great Asset .

A Great loss to carnatic music.

Heartfelt condolences to the family.
May his soul rest in peace.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 27 Feb 2012, 21:25

Heartfelt condolences to Sri Ramabadran's near and dear.

What memories he has left us with...especially his monumental concerts with MMI. His playing carried such dignity in its sparseness.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 27 Feb 2012, 21:49

Very sad to hear of this great loss. Condolences to family and friends. I saw him a few times at the 2010 Music Academy, attending the morning Lecture Demonstrations.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 27 Feb 2012, 22:29

As I wrote earlier, myself and my father used to see him in the Music Academy during the december concerts in the mid 70s. Since myself and my father used to come early in the morning to MA and stay till the last concert, we used to be in and out of the canteen for our breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner.Shri VR and some other musicians would be standing near by and my father used to talk to them. VR used to ask my father 'enna aNNA munnADiyE vanduTTELA'? I think he will repeat the same question to my father now.

nadhasudha · Post by **nadhasudha** » 27 Feb 2012, 22:48

Very Sad to hear this news. Condolences to his family and friends.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 27 Feb 2012, 22:49

That is sad new indeed.

Condolences to the immediate family, and his large family of disciples, rasikas and fans.
I am sure, somewhere, someone is enjoying his 'sogasAna mRdanga tALam'!

RKrishnamurthy · Post by **RKrishnamurthy** » 27 Feb 2012, 22:59

Indeed, what a shocking news . I knew Sri Ramabdran very well at a personal level. For many years during Rohan's and my stay at the Karpagam hotel during the season, I used to join him in his early morning walk around the tank area. Finally we would walk over to his house at his insistence for a "strong glass of South Indian coffee". We would then chat for while. On one occasion he presented his demonstration video to Rohan and refused to accept any charge for it. May his soul rest in peace.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 28 Feb 2012, 00:05

>VR used to ask my father 'enna aNNA munnADiyE vanduTTELA'? I think he will repeat the same question to my father now.

Punarvasu: That is quite poignant and touching.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 28 Feb 2012, 00:55

Words fail me. I grew up listening to Sri MMI and Sri Ramabhadran Sir. When I met him here in Auckland, he had come to accompany USrinivas for a concert. They were waiting at the entrance of McCafe for some refreshments. I came up from behind and immediately recognised both of them. They had not seen me. First words out of my mouth was "Sarvalagu masterukku en namaskaram". Ramabhadran sir was totally shocked. Of course, both US and Ramabhadran sir immediately recognised me and needless to say we had a great chat reminicising yester years.

Ramabhadran sir defined sarvalagu and set up the benchmark for providing sowkyam in accompanying the great artists. My condolences to the whole family. My namaskarams to him. Well.... Sri MMI has now got his favorite mridangam artist with him!!

msakella · Post by **msakella** » 28 Feb 2012, 03:32

Very sad to hear this news. Heartfelt condolenses to his family and friends. amsharma

suma · Post by **suma** » 28 Feb 2012, 06:01

Very sad to hear this news. Heartfelt condolenses to his family and friends.

venu sundar · Post by **venu sundar** » 28 Feb 2012, 09:46

Vellore Ramabadran one of the BEST Maestro of Mridangam is no more and the Carnatic Music world has lost a doyen of great talent.Vellore Ramabadran made his debut with the legendary late MAdurai Mani Iyer whose centenary is being celebrated now globally in 1943.He used to recall the memorable event both in private and public events and Ramabadran used to handle the instrument like any classical cricketer using his willow.A career spanning over seven decades Ramabadran has accompanied the greats of Carnatic Music from Ariyakudi.Chembai,Semmenagudi Madurai Mani Iyer GNB and upto the latest young musicians.Maali with whom he was very close on and off the stage was a fine partnership many a time according to the great FLute Ramani.Ramabadran can turn any Mridangam into melody by his Midas touch.Ramabadran Sir was very well known for his famed SARVALAGU pattern.The sound of Mridangam of Vellore Ramabdran is STILL NOW!We pray for the departed soul of Sangitha Kalanidhi Rambadra
Sir now.Young at 82 when he passed away Ramabadran Sir has left an imprint that can perhaps be never filled.With all this Ramabdran Sir was SIMPLE!We PRAY for him

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 28 Feb 2012, 22:24

I'm deeply saddened by this shocking news. VR was the kind of person who looked like he could go on forever. His willingness to accompany youngsters was another thing I admired about him.

The very first cassette I listened was MMI with TNK and VR. Ever since I listened to that, I fell in love with MMI's singing, TNK and VR's playing. I love his accompaniment for MMI in particular allowing him to sing endless patterns of swaras.

One of my favorite thanis of his - http://www.mediafire.com/?k4cas2uep2f8lqk

aravindbhargav · Post by **aravindbhargav** » 28 Feb 2012, 22:48

Great loss to the Musical World..

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 29 Feb 2012, 00:11

Shocked!
Perhaps MMI needed himbadly for the centenary!
Condolences.

sridhar_ranga · Post by **sridhar_ranga** » 29 Feb 2012, 01:04

Heartfelt condolences. I will cherish the few concerts featuring him I was fortunate to attend.

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 29 Feb 2012, 07:03

It always seems that tragedy strikes the Carnatic world when I'm away from Chennai.

There are many paths to greatness but like Ganesha going around Shiva, Ramabhadran sir conquered the hearts of rasikas by the simple yet profound act of channeling pure nAda brahmam, a gift given to the rarest of rare human beings on earth.

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 29 Feb 2012, 07:17

Last year, I saw him in MA for mridangam lec-dem, with Trichy Shankaran. I also saw him playing for Shri TNS in the same year at MA.
Whenever I was listening Mah Santhanam concert, Vellore and Nagai were part of it. Inseparable from Mridangam. Heartfelt condolences. Though I don't know the nuances of mridangam, his playing of mridangam is always soothing....

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 29 Feb 2012, 20:49

Deepest condolences to all lovers of his music all over the world.

The keenness with which he would listen to the main artist while playing even after decades of playing for the best in the field, is true testimony to the importance he gave to perfection.

I also learnt a personal lesson from him! When he started thani in a TVS concert in Bangalore, I went up to Sri.TVS with a chit. Sri.Ramabhadran sharply reprimanded me- "Apparam kudungolaen". From then on I give the chit only after the thani.

malavi · Post by **malavi** » 29 Feb 2012, 22:02

As a mark of respect to this great vidhwan, a recorded concert of sri.Tanjavur S.kalyanaraman with sri.M.Chandrasekaran and vellore sri.Ramabhadran was broadcast yesterday in chennai AIR. What a concert it was.Ramabhadran sirs was what you call adakkamana sunaada vasippu.Heartfelt condolences to his family. [quote][/quote]

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 01 Mar 2012, 01:08

CM has lost another stalwart. He has played for all the famous vidwans and traveled overseas. A big loss. Sympathies to the family. He will be missed.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 01 Mar 2012, 02:40

Condolences.

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 04 Mar 2012, 20:26

Our whole family was deeply saddened by this news, which came together with the passing of my grandmother. My youngest brother learnt under him from 2002-2008 every year when he went to Chennai. He was his manasika guru, and we had the privilege of hosting him here when he attended my youngest brother's arangetram. He was a simple, unassuming man, and he had a deep regard for my late mother. Always full of anecdotes about great artistes of yesteryear, he will be sorely missed by us all.

We were aware of his ill health the last time my brother went to Chennai during the season but his passing still was very painful to hear. I recall when my brother asked him 'why don't you play more complex korvais during thani' half-jestingly, he replied with 'I don't know, never saw a need to. People appreciated what I played and therefore I didn't bother learning any'. Even mridangists whom he didn't like personally, he was open in admiring their skill and greatness.

His mridangam playing was simple, the nadam superb, and the approach pragmatic. He had an amazing intuition on what to play for different artistes and their styles. I remember especially a stellar rendition of Thyagaraja's magnificent Merusamana in Mayamalavagoula by MDR. Mridangam was Sri Ramabhadran. The mridangam transported the krithi from being a great rendition to being a magnificent one, enhancing all the right parts of the rendition. Unobtrusive but always uplifting about sums it up.

Heartfelt condolences to his family.