Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar

Film & Music First Day Cover India Indian Musician Singer

August 28, 1996

A commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Centenary of Chembai Bhagavatar, a Carnatic music singer from Palakkad :

Issued by India

Issued on Aug 28, 1996

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Denomination : 100 Paise

Printer : India Security Press

Name : Vaidyanatha Iyer

Born on Sep 1, 1896 at Chembai, Palghat, Palakkad District, Kerala, India

Died on Oct 16, 1974 at Ottapalam, Palghat, Palakkad District, Kerala, India

About :

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar was born on 28.08.1896 at Chembai, a village in Palghat in Kerala. This small district is the birthplace of veritable doyens of Karnatic music, the most significant being Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, who was popularly known as ‘Chembai‘.
At a very early age, ‘Chembai‘ literally stormed the music world with his performances in South India. During those performances he was accompanied regularly by the masters, Puthukotta Dakshinamoorthi Pillai (Ganjira), Malaikottai Govindaswami Pillai (Violin) and Kumbakonam Azhakanambi Pillai (Mridangam). He went on to give performances all over the country and his fame spread far and wide.
His illustrious contemporaries were Sri Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Palghat Rama Bhagavathar and others.
Recognition came to him in the form of titles from several music organisations. “Gayana Gandharva“, “Sangeetha Kalanidhi” and “Sangeetha Samrat” are a few such famous titles.