https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Velu_AasaanVelu Aasaan - Revision history2026-08-17T10:58:53ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Velu_Aasaan&diff=544053&oldid=prevHimanshuucharan: made initial info first draft2025-11-08T20:45:25Z<p>made initial info first draft</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Parai artist from India}}<br />
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'''Velu Aasaan''' is a [[Parai]] artist and teacher from [[Alanganallur]] in [[Madurai district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India. He is widely credited for revitalizing Parai, a traditional [[percussion instrument]], both in India and internationally.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Velu Aasan: Padma Shri recipient and 'parai' virtuoso |url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2025/07/05/padma-shri-awarded-parai-musician-velu-aasan.html |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref> In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth highest civilian honor, in 2025.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-26 |title=Madurai artist Velu Aasaan gets Padma Shri for reviving Parai Isai |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/madurai-artist-velu-aasaan-gets-padma-shri-for-reviving-parai-isai/articleshow/117562691.cms |access-date=2025-09-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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== Early life ==<br />
Velu Aasaan (his birth name is Velmurugan) was born into a Dalit family in Mettamalai village near Sattur, [[Virudhunagar]] municipality, Tamil Nadu. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in the Parai, a drum traditionally played at funerals and public events. His father, Ramayya, and other family elders played the instrument, but social stigma discouraged him from formally pursuing it. His first Parai was a gift from his uncle when he was 10.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2025-02-17 |title=A drummer's beat, a bard's voice |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/a-drummers-beat-a-bards-voice/articleshow/118337429.cms |access-date=2025-09-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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Despite family resistance, Aasaan began practicing at 13, learning from local masters such as Malaichaami Vaadhiyaar and Saegu Vaadhiyaar, who are his elder brothers. Financial hardship forced him to take on numerous odd jobs, but his passion for music persisted.<ref name=":1" /><br />
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== Career ==<br />
Aasaan's career began after his first public performance at a village festival in Alanganallur, where audiences recognized his talent. Despite early setbacks and an eight-year hiatus due to lack of support at home, he later returned to the Parai, dedicating his life to its promotion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=IANS |date=2025-01-26 |title='Prince Of Parai' Velu Aasan Honoured With Padma Shri For Reviving TN's Traditional Art |url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/velu-aasan-prince-of-parai-honoured-with-padma-shri-for-reviving-tamil-nadu-traditional-art-1746926 |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=ABP Live |language=en}}</ref><br />
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He founded the ''Alanganallur Thappisai Kuzhu'', now Tamil Nadu's largest Parai troupe, and later established ''Samar Kazhaikuzhu'' in 2001 to train new generations of artists. Aasaan is known for breaking gender barriers by training women performers in a field traditionally dominated by men.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-01-27 |title=Parai artiste Velu Murugan honoured with Padma Shri award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Jan/27/parai-artiste-velu-murugan-honoured-with-padma-shri-award |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-26 |title=Madurai artist Velu Aasaan gets Padma Shri for reviving Parai Isai |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/madurai-artist-velu-aasaan-gets-padma-shri-for-reviving-parai-isai/articleshow/117562691.cms |access-date=2025-09-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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His overseas performances include China, United States, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, where he both performed and taught Parai Isai.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-01-27 |title=Parai artiste Velu Murugan honoured with Padma Shri award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Jan/27/parai-artiste-velu-murugan-honoured-with-padma-shri-award |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-26 |title=Madurai artist Velu Aasaan gets Padma Shri for reviving Parai Isai |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/madurai-artist-velu-aasaan-gets-padma-shri-for-reviving-parai-isai/articleshow/117562691.cms |access-date=2025-09-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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== Recognition ==<br />
In 2025, he was conferred the Padma Shri by the [[government of India]].<ref name=":0" /> Apart from this, he has won numerous other awards in the last couple of decades.<ref>{{Cite web |last=சரவணகுமார் |first=லஷ்மி |date=2022-01-17 |title=`கலை மட்டும்தான் நிரந்தரம்' - பறை இசைக் கலைஞர் வேலு ஆசான் {{!}} இவர்கள் {{!}} பகுதி 18 |url=https://www.vikatan.com/literature/arts/parai-isai-artist-velu-asan-ivargal-part-18 |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=www.vikatan.com/ |language=ta}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
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[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]<br />
[[Category:Indian folk artists]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]</div>Himanshuucharan