My Father

Late Pandit C.R.Vyas - The legendary Vocalist of Hindustani Music

Late Pandit C.R.Vyas, a legendary Vocalist left for heavenly abode on 10th January, 2002, at Kolkata, where he had gone for a concert. His sudden death left the music world stunned. It was an end of an era.

A symbol of tradition, character, integrity and purity, Pandit Chintaman Raghunath Vyas, popularly known as Pandit C.R.Vyas in the world of Hindustani Classical Music, ranked among India's leading vocalist. He was something much more than a top notch performer. He was also a gifted composer. This rare combination had put him in a class by himself.

Born at Osmanabad in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state of India, on November 9, 1924, Pandit C.R.Vyas was groomed under the guidance of four Gurus namely, Pandit Govindrao Bhatambrekar of Kirana Gharana, Pandit Rajarambua Paradkar, Pandit Mirashibuaof Gwalior Gharana and Pandit Jagannathbua Purohit alias GUNIDAS of Agra Gharana.

Pandit Vyas was gifted with a massive but intensely musical voice which was also marked by depth and range. There was an uncanny assimilation of the musical wealth of three leading "Khayal Gharanas" in his singing and something more. He had further enriched it by evolving a distintively individual vocalism of his own. Thereby he widened the horizons of artistic taste and aesthetic appreciation in pure classicism.

As a leading vocalist, Pandit Vyas was regularly featured in all the major music conferences held in various cities and towns of India. He had also travelled extensively out of India to countries like England, America, Canada, Holland, France, Afghanisthan etc.

No less noteworthy is his contribution as a composer of "Ragas" and "Bandishees" under the pen-name "GUNIJAN". he had created several Ragas like "Dhankoni Kalyan", "Sanjogiya", "Shiv-Abhogi", to name but a few. He had composed more than 200 "Bandishrees" and had set them to tune in well known as well as lesser known "Ragas".

Pandit Vyas commanded an ever widening following. His disciples include several well-known and younger artistes. His several albums in the form of LP Records, Cassettes and CDs have been released by HMV, Polygram (Universal), Venus, Navras Records, Music Today, Sony Music, T-Series etc.

Pandit C.R.Vyas was honoured with many prestigious awards amongst which are: