Tributes to the doyen of Hindustani Classical music, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, on his 98th birth anniversary today.

Tributes to the doyen of Hindustani Classical music, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, on his 98th birth anniversary today.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, who enthralled generations of connoisseurs with his renditions of Hindustani classical music, was one of the most venerable musicians of Indian Classical music and a powerful figure on the Hindustani music concert platform. An artistic genius, Bhimsenji enjoyed phenomenal popularity for over six decades. He demonstrated power and passion in his recitals and his voice, which commanded worship all over the world, resounded with its acknowledged majesty.

A doyen of the Kirana Gharana, he was renowned for the ‘khayal’ form of singing, as well as for his bhajans and abhangs.

Bhimsen Joshi also sang for several films, including Basant Bahar (1956) with Manna Dey, Birbal My Brother (1973) with Pandit Jasraj. He also sang for the Bengali film Tansen (1958). His song for Hindi film Ankahee (1985) fetched him National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. His song ‘Bhagyadalakshmi baaramma’, a Purandara Dasa composition, was used by Anant Nag and Shankar Nag in the Kannada film ‘Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige’. He also sang as a playback singer for the Marathi film Gulacha Ganapati, produced and directed by P. L. Deshpande.

Bhimsen Joshi’s legacy will remain.