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Senior Carnatic vidwan Chengleput C. Ranganathan passed away this morning (July 12) at his residence on Nallappan Street, Mylapore, Chennai.
Ranganathan was 73 years old.
Family members said that he was ailing for some time and had complained of chest pain early on Tuesday morning. He died on the way to hospital.
Even in this age, he was a keen guru, heading classes at the school run by The Music Academy. He was known to be an expert in pallavi singing in Carnatic music. A man known to stick to tradition and a hard task master as a guru, Ranganathan was sought after by students and artistes alike.
He was often seen at the concerts of senior artistes and at lec-dems in Chennai’s sabhas.
Born in June 1938, Ranganathan had his first lessons in music from his mother. Later, he became a disciple of the famed Alathoor Brothers and had his arangetram in 1955. He was a top grade artiste of All India Radio (AIR) and was its staff artiste for over 20 years.
He was decorated with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award, the nation’s highest honour for great artistes and the Sangita Kala Acharya by The Music Academy.
His family resides at Kartik Flats, 27/6, 1st Floor, Nallappan St., Mylapore, Chennai - 4. Ph: 4217 5165.
Read an interview with Chengleput Ranganathan on Kutcheribuzz archives.
If you wish to share anecdotes related to Chengleput Ranganathan or pay your tribute, please email to – editor@kutcheribuzz.com
TRIBUTE
I had the good fortune of studying Carnatic vocal and musicology from 1981 to 1984 in the prime of his health and music career, I was one of the very few disciples who learnt the 35 Alankaras complete from him.
His teaching methods were rigorous and very ardent, a strict Guru of very high discipline.
I was able to record a few great concerts during that period, myself and a few other disciples were in the process of putting these recordings to CD.
It was my other Guru The Late Ramnathapuram M N Kandaswami that played for his arangetram, and they paired together for the rest of my gurus life. They were in-separable in music and as family friends.
I sat with him in 1981 when he taught Smt Mani Krishnaswami a pallavi to be sung at the Music Academy on the 24th December 1981, it won first prize.
Mani Ma once told me "Sri Chengleput Ranganathan when he was 25 years he was already singing like a 70 year old maestro."
He maintained a very strict diet and health regiment and would never it out of time but according to tradition, He once told me to study "Sangita Kalpadramum" Of Dr L Muthiah Bagawather he said it was a treasure and that he has memorised the entire book and knew every swara prastara at the back of the book which led to further his greatness in Thalam and vyavaharam .
Dr Semmangudi Srinivasan was once visited by foreign musicologists to have an idea of the in depth theory of Carnatic music from musician, Dr Semmangudi referred them to Sri Ranganathan
Because of his knowledge of "Sangita Kalpadramum" I once gave him a gift for Diwali, and he said "what gift can I give you I don't have anything". I asked him to sing Bahudari raga as a gift, it was the most soul stirring alapana spanning 45 minutes I was visibly moved but blessed by this great soul.
A noted disciple of was the sister of the Late MV Udayshanker, she had her arangetram after many years of rigorous training , she settled in Abu Dhabi eventually.
He sang for all Guru M N Kandaswami's mridangam arangetrams.
I have recordings of all his lessons that he gave him in my times.
He was a great devotee of Shirdi Sai and Sai Baba.
I followed his every footstep in my years in Chennai learning everything I possibly can.
His sons were little boys way back then, I met his mother many times, and his wife is a divine calm spiritual lady.
I hope to write more soon, this is from memory this instant.
-- Rajan Padiachi
Disciple of Late Sri M N Kandaswami and Sri Chengleput Ranganathan
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