Hindustani classical singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra dies at 89
What's the story
Indian classical singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee, Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, passed away on Thursday, October 2, at the age of 89. In his last moments, he was at his daughter's residence in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. His daughter Namrata told PTI that Mishra had been hospitalized for the past 17-18 days due to age-related health issues before returning home, where he eventually died around 4:00am. His last rites will be performed in Varanasi at 5:00pm on Thursday.
Musical legacy
Mishra was a stalwart of Banaras gharana
Mishra was a prominent figure of the Banaras gharana in Hindustani classical music, renowned for his mastery of Khayal and Purab Ang Thumri. He had been honored with several awards during his illustrious career including the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Shiromani Award from Sur Singar Sansad, and the Government of India's Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowship.
Film contributions
His voice graced several Bollywood films
Apart from his contributions to classical music, Mishra also lent his voice to several Bollywood films. He sang Kaun Si Dor in the 2011 film Aarakshan, starring Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, and Amitabh Bachchan. He also sang the title track of Sunny Deol's 2018 drama satire Mohalla Assi.
Family and legacy
Mishra was a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan
Mishra is survived by his son Ramkumar Mishra, a tabla player, and three daughters. He was the recipient of India's third-highest civilian honor, Padma Bhushan, in 2010. In 2020, he was awarded India's second-highest civilian honor, Padma Vibhushan. His contributions to music have left an indelible mark on the Indian classical music scene.