Palghat R. Raghu article by Anonymous

Palghat R. Raghu

Palghat Raghu is one of the senior most vidwans in the field of mridangam. He has more than fifty years of concert experience and has accompanied almost the entire galaxy of Carnatic musicians. Sri Raghu has been selected to receive the title of Nada Brahmam from the Narada Gana Sabha this year. Sri Raghu learned mridangam from Tinniam Venkatrama Iyer, Trichy Raghava Iyer, and Palghat T.S. Mani Iyer. Being a fan of Palani Subramaniam Pillai he has managed to develop a highly original style combining the best elements of the two great schools, Pudukottai and Tanjavur. His playing is marked by dexterity, brilliance, and striking percussive excellence. He was a favorite of Sri G.N. Balasubramaniam and later had been a long time accompanist to sri K.V. Narayanswami. Sri Raghu's accompanimant especially to strong and forceful male vocalists like D.K. Jayaraman, TNS, Hyderabad Brothers, Sanjay Subramaniam etc. is a real treat to experience. Sri Raghu has played and taught at the Weslyan University in the U.S. and has collaborated with many Western and Jazz musicians. He has trained many disciples who uphold his Bhani successfully and was the first mridangist to receive the Padma Sri award from the Government of India.