The passing of a maestro: Pandit A Kanan (1922 - 2004)

One of the senior most Gurus of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Pandit A Kanan died at the AMRI Apollo Hospitals, Kolkata on September 12, 2004. The end came at 8 pm. The mortal remains of the departed soul were kept at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy from 11 a.m to 1.30 p.m the followng day.

Born in Madras on June 18, 1922, Pandit A Kanan was renowned for his individual gayaki. Gifted with a very melodious voice, vocal music was his hobby right from youth. But it was his passion for cricket, at which he excelled, that eventually paved the way for his future career.

Pandit A.Kanan began his career with the Railways at the age of 18. While visiting Mumbai to play a cricket match, Kanan happened to visit All India Radio (AIR) and decided to get his voice tested. The AIR personnel were completely stunned to disbelief when they heard the youngster’s exquisite voice. AIR immediately offered him a programme. Pandit Kanan took his first firm step into the world of music!

Enthused and inspired, the young Kanan returned to Hyderabad to start his tryst with Hindustani Classical Music. His first tutor was Shri Lahanu Babu Rao. His job with the Railways later brought him to Kolkata, where he resumed his training under a new guru, the late Shri Girija Shankar Chakraborty.

It was during these two years of training that Kanan made his mark. He won many prizes and enormous acclaim. As a result, when the time came for Kanan to leave Kolkata, he was persuaded by his many admirers to leave his job and stay on!

And so, as destiny would have it, Pandit Kanan settled down in Kolkata to concentrate solely on his music. His formal debut at the All Bengal Music Conference in 1943 was a resounding success. He never looked back after that. Kanan later came in contact with the legendary Ustad Amir Khan and interacted with him extensively.

Pandit Kanan’s singing style was singularly his own. It suited his own personality and spirit. His rendition of the ragas of ‘Hamsadhwani’, ‘Rageshri’, and ‘Jog’, among others, made him an extremely popular khayal singer not only in Kolkata but throughout the country.

A top grade AIR artiste, Kanan had performed in all the important music conferences in the country, including National Programmes and Radio Sangeet Sammelans. He had also lent his voice to many films, the music of which became legendary– Meghe Dhaka Tara, Basant Bahar, Jadu Bhatta and Megh Malhar, to name but a few.

He has enriched the music world not only through his music but also through the enormous service he has rendered towards the cause of Hindustani classical music. Pandit Kanan had probably trained more students than any other guru. His generosity and his helpfulness, especially towards his numerous students and his fellow artistes, was legendary. It was often at the cost of his own well-being. In the 50s, he, along with other musicians, founded the Calcutta Music Circle. He later went on to become one of the first gurus to join ITC Sangeet Research Academy. He played a major role in its establishment and foundation. He was also a member of its Experts Committee.

Pandit Kanan received the prestigious ITC Award for 1993-1994 and the Sangeet Natak Academy award in the year 1995. He is survived by renowned vocalist Malabika Kanan, who is also a Guru with ITC-SRA.

Moments with the maestro Pandit A Kanan