Honar Productions and Depot48 Present Mehfil-e Honär - Rhythms of the South with Tanjavur R. Kesavan

Wed, 01-Nov-2023 | 8.30 PM Onwards

“VADYA RATNA”
THANJAVUR RAMAMURTHY KESAVAN

Tanjavur R. Kesavan
is a renowned percussionist and a Nattuvangam Artiste in the field of performing arts. Kesavan has illustrious lineage and belongs to a family dedicated to music for four generations.
His artistry with consistent technical perfection has made him a leading Mridangam artiste in New Delhi. Kesavan has managed to capture the hearts of music rasikas all over the world with his versatility and mastery performances. His fine musical instincts are imbibed from his great family lineage and traditions of his Guru Parampara.

He started learning Mridangam at a very early age of 6yrs. By the age of 10yrs he was accompanying his father Ramamurthy Bhagavathar who was a Harikatha exponent, Kesavan also accompanied the famous Thirumuruga Kirupanandh variyar- Spiritual guru. Over the years Kesavan has expertise himself in playing other percussion instruments like Thavil, Kanjeera, Pakhawaj, Ghatam with the same felicity and ease.
Kesavan has been imparting the art of Mridangam and promoted many promising students. He has conducted ‘Mridangam Arangetrams’ for many of his disciples. Many of his students have also received various scholarship under his abled guidance. He has given opportunities to many budding talents to be part of many prestigious concerts.
He is expertise in composing new Allaripu,Pushpanjali,Jatiswaram, tillana and many varieties of Jathis in various talams that has been incorporated by art exponents in their presentations and productions.
Kesavan feels pride with humility to all associated with him professionally that has given him recognition and acclaimed him as a successful Mridangam and Nattuvangam artist of the country with high repute. He is an empanelled artist of lCCR and “B High” Graded Artiste in All India Radio & Doordarshan.
Academic and Art Education-
MA Sociology from Annamalai University.
Completed Sangeet Visharad from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Pragyaraj
Professional training in Mridangam under Tutelage Guru.Tanjavur Shri T.M.Lakshmana Naidu.
Received Advance training under the able guidance of
Shri Prapancham Ravindran
Received training in Nattuvangam from legendary Guru. Shri Kittappa Pillai
Genealogy

Myself – Tanjavur Ramamurthy Kesavan has inherited music and fine arts from his family of musical stalwarts.

Father- Tanjavur Shri. Ramamoorthy Bagavathar was among the first to receive the prestigious Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu. He was a leading Harikatha legend.

Grandfather- Shri K Gopala Bagavathar was an illustrious Mridangam vidwan who had accompanied legendary musicians of yesterday years like Thiruvaiyaru Shri Annaswamy Bagavathar, Embar Shri Vijaya Raghavachari and many more.

First grandfather -Shri. V Kesava Bagavathar was a genius in Harikatha kalakshepam

Second grandfather Shri Venkatachalapathi Bagavathar was a leading exponent who propagate the tradition of HariKatha in the town of Tanjavur.

Tanjavur Ramamurthy Kesavan belongs to many generations of musical stalwarts starts from the time of Maanamboochavadi Shri. Venkata Subbaiyer and Shri. Venkatasoori Swamigal who were scholar linguists in Saurashtra state of India. They were the strong pillars of music and cultural plethora. Kesavan is putting in immense efforts to keep the Artform alive, thus spreading the artform amongst present generation.

Honours and Titles
“Sangeeth Bhushan”
conferred on him at the international theatre festival, Cuttack Orissa.
“Mridanga Chakravarti”
Title from the S U N A I N A lndradhanush, Art festival New Delhi.
“Vaadya Ratna”
Bharat Sanskrit Utsav, Vardhaman (West Bengal)
“Nada Laya Shiromani”
Sri Hayagriva and Lok Kala Manch (Delhi)
Honorary Doctorate
From The International Tamil University (USA)



Thematic Programmes

Kesavan has conceptualized and presented various thematic presentations involving different classical percussions and string instruments of India.
His compositions have been regarded as highly creative aesthetically appealing which encompasses amazing complexities and intricacies of rhythm blended in the musical notes.

A few notable productions are

Panchabootham
It is based on the nature and temperamental five elements with rhythmic notations were widely appreciated. It has been archived and telecast several times on national channel (DD Bharti)

Madhuvanthi - the mime of melody

Keeravani - The raga based on rhythmic arrangement.


Notable Works and Tours

Kesavan has toured on his mission to propagate the Art of Classical, South Indian rhythmic tradition and Instruments to various Dance & Music institutions, school and organisations across the Globe through his eloquent Workshops and Lecture Demonstrations.

He has instilled in many young and desiring minds the taste of the art of Mridangam and Nattuvangam.

Apart from programmes in India, Kesavan has also toured abroad to more than 84 countries like South and East Africa, East Europe, North and East Asia, Middle East, USA, UAE, and more.

Kesavan has gained an acclaim as a proficient accompanist for scores of renowned senior dancers like Sonal Mansingh, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Vyjayantimala Bali, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Swapna Sundari, Leela Samson, Geeta Chandran and many more in the last two decades both in India and abroad.

His style of accompaniment is vibrant and energetic. He has played with music legendry like Madurai Somu. Dr. M Bala Murali Krishna, Mendolin U Srinivas, Kesavan is well known for his spontaneity, fine artistry and deft fingering techniques.

He has accompanied galaxy of repute musicians and Bhaian Samrats in India. Kesavan’s marvel merits have been observed through his Jugalbandi concerts with maestros of other streams music like Hindustani and western.
To name a few:
Allaudin Khan festival of SNA(Bhopal) - Jugalbandi of Kesavan on Mridangam and Akram khan on Tabala
Tate Centre (Mumbai) - Jugalbandi of Kesavan on Mridangam and Vikram Ghosh on Tabala
Chakradhar Samaroh(Raigarh)
Khajuraho Festival
Inauguration of DIAF (Tihar Jail, Delhi)
The Album ‘Indian ocean‟ stands testimony to Kesavan’s prowess over the western drums.


Kesavan has conducted 3 days’ workshop in January 2019 in Malda West Bengal, organised by Bharatanjali dance and cultural society.

Also conducted 3 days’ workshop in January 2021 in Bongaigaon organised by Swagatam cultural academy

Conducted 4 days’ workshop to celebrate 27th Ramamurthy bhagavatar festival in Bongaigaon

Kesavan has also been training under privileged students free of cost for more than a decade to spread the art and to give them an opportunity to make the art their profession at Nrutya Dham Bhilai CG. There by contributing his knowledge for their well being in the society.

Kesavan has shown throughout his musical career that he cares about the welfare of humanity and that is why a lot of people admire and respect him.