Sankaran Embranthiri: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Indian singer}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}}

{{use Indian English|date=January 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

'''Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri''' (1944–2007) was one of the most popular [[Kathakali]] musicians, credited with initiating a new wave in the rendition of songs for the classical dance-drama from [[Kerala]] in south [[India]]. His [[shruti]]-aligned music was glistened by a velvety voice, easy reach of the three [[octaves]] and command over stage proceedings that won him massive fan following even as his form received an abrupt setback in 1990 when he suffered a major ailment from which he could never recover fully.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/14/stories/2004041407140400.htm/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828113327/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/14/stories/2004041407140400.htm |archive-date=28 August 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2004-04-14 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Embranthiri wasn't a particularly promising singer during his student days, but soon after completing his training at Kalamandalam began getting noticed for his sweet, emotion-laden voice and clear diction. Just as he started finding stages in the southern [[Travancore]] region, he got employed—first in the [[Irinjalakuda]]-based Unnayi Varrier Smaraka Kalanilayam in 1965 and later, in 1970, at FACT Kathakali School near [[Kochi, India|Kochi]] from where he eventually retired as a Kathakali music teacher.

Embranthiri rose to professional prominence in early 1970s by updating himself on its voice culture that suited the general aesthetics of the times.<ref>Kathakali Encyclopaedia (Vijnanakosam), page 426)</ref> His singing had a charismatic appeal that earned him admirers from the mass and the class alike. This, coupled with his ability to anchor the show as the lead musician (''ponnani bhagavatar''), won the trust of masters like [[Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair]], [[Kalamandalam Gopi]], [[Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair]] and [[Kottakkal Sivaraman]].

In August 1990, Embranthiri fell seriously ill, necessitating a [[kidney transplant]] the following year. He did return to Kathakali circuit months later but seldom rose to his vintage form. Acute [[diabetes]] led to amputation of his right leg less than a decade later, but a gritty and tenacious Embranthiri still chose to stay on as a singer, sitting on a wheelchair in one corner of the Kathakali stage.

Embranthiri, an ardent devotee of Lord [[Krishna]] at the famous [[Guruvayur]] temple, had made "Ajitha Hare" and "Pari Pahimaam Hare" his hit numbers among others. He also held several Kathakali Pada ''kacheris'', or Kathakali song concerts (with instrumental support) without the dancers on stage. He was also party to many [[jugalbandi]] programmes, sharing the stage with Carnatic and [[Hindustani music]] exponents like [[Neyyattinkara Vasudevan]], [[Sreevalsan J. Menon|Sreevalsan J Menon]] and [[Ramesh Narayan]].

Embranthiri was chosen for the prestigious [[Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram]] in 2003, a year after he received the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/14/stories/2004041407140400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040730005752/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/14/stories/2004041407140400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-07-30 |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Swathi Puraskaram for Sankaran Embranthiri |date=2004-04-14 |access-date=2018-01-25}}</ref>

==References==

[[Category:1944 births]]

[[Category:2007 deaths]]

[[Category:Kathakali exponents]]

[[Category:Singers from Kerala]]

[[Category:People from Malappuram district]]

[[Category:Kidney transplant recipients]]