Pandit Chhannulal Mishra: The spiritual...

Born in 1936 in Harihar-pur village of Azamgarh district, Mishra was introduced to music by his father, Pan-dit Badri Prasad Mishra.

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He later trained in the Kirana gharanas khayal gayaki under Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan and refined his artistry under the guidance of musicologist Thakur Jaidev Singh. His musical lineage was also enriched through family ties, as his father-in-law was the acclaimed tabla maestro Pandit Anokhe Lal.

‘Although he trained in khayal, Mishra earned acclaim as a master of thumri while excelling equally in dada, chaiti, kajri and bhajan. His repertoire featured stirring renditions such as “Sawan Jhar Lagela Dheere Dheere’, a kajri soaked in monsoon longing, and “Kaise Sajan Ghar Jaibe’, a thumri of separation and devotion. Hi collaboration with Girija Devi in “Barsan Laagi Badriya” remains etched in the memories of classical music lovers.

While largely a purist who avoided Bollywood, Mishra lent his voice to tracks such as “Saans Albeli” and “Kaun Si Dor’” for the 2011 film Aarakshan, seamlessly introducing classical nuances to a wider audience.