G. Harishankar
Govinda Rao Harishankar (born June 10, 1958 in Chennai , † February 11, 2002 in Chennai) was an Indian Kanjira player . The Kanjira is a tambourine used in the Carnatic music of southern India . Harishankar is the only Kanjira player to have received the Sangeet Natak Akademi , India's highest art award for stage performers.
life and work
Harishankar received his first musical training from his father Govinda Rao. At the age of seven he had his first appearances with the Kanjira. He later learned from Palghat Mani Iyer and CS Murugabhupathi. He worked as a permanent musician at All India Radio in Chennai. He recorded records with a number of South Indian musicians. As a companion and as a soloist, he impressed with his controlled playing at breakneck speed. Today he is considered to be the greatest kanjira player in Indian classical music . According to several sources, he suffered from albinism ; although he can be seen in photos and videos with dark (probably colored) hair, he shows noticeably light skin and white eyebrows.
Web links
- The Kanjira falls silent ", obituary by Aruna Subbiah, KutcheriBuzz magazine; Feb 20, 2002; Chennai, India
- G. Harishankar - Khanjira Maestro Without Equal ( Memento from May 17, 2006 on the Internet Archive ) "Obituary by Manna Srinivasan, Sruti Magazine # 210; March, 2002; Chennai, India
- S. Centers: Famous People with Albinism. In: SARA-Foundation.com. Supporting Albinism Research and Awareness, 2005, archived from the original on April 23, 2008 ; Retrieved April 26, 2008 .
- Solo by G. Harishankar
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Harishankar, G. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Harishankar, Govinda Rao (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | South Indian Kanjira player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 10, 1958 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Chennai |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 11, 2002 |
| Place of death | Chennai |