| C. Aswath ಸಿ. ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥ |
|
|---|---|
C. Aswath |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Aswatha Narayana |
| Born | 1939 |
| Origin | Chennarayapattana |
| Died | 29 December 2009 (age 70) |
| Genres | Bhavageete, Janapada Geete (Traditional Indian light & folk music) |
| Occupations | Singer, composer |
| Years active | 1969–2009 |
| Website | http://caswath.com |
C. Aswath (Kannada: ಸಿ. ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥ;1939 – 29 December 2009) was an Indian music composer and exponent of Bhavageete ("expressive poetry") in the Kannada language. He was also a singer, and had sung many of his own compositions. He was credited with singing Bhavageete songs and making sure that they reached the common man. He died on 29 December 2009 on his birthday. He was suffering from renal and liver failures.[1]
C. Aswath is a household name in Karnataka. He is, perhaps the only Music Director in Karnataka, to have carved a niche of his own in all three fields that demand music as an element of expression: Theatre, Sugam Sangeetha and Film.
He was born on 29 December 1939. He was graduated in Science from Bangalore University and later worked in Indian Telephone Industries for 27 years before retiring as an Executive Engineer in 1992. He started his musical career as a disciple of Devagiri Shankararao Joshi in Hindustani Music.
He turned 71 on 29 December 2009. His friends and well wishers had planned to celebrate his 70th birthday in a special way. A function was to be held at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore and Swamiji of Suttur and Virendra Hegde were to felicitate him on the occasion this evening. After this, he was expected to sing his popular songs. As luck can have it, the singer/composer C Ashwath breathed his last on his birthday. His death left Kannada music lovers in a pool of tears.
As both a singer and composer, he was extremely popular in Karnataka and among Kannadigas all over the world. His concert in Bangalore in 2005 was attended by a crowd of almost 100,000 people. He has also given concerts outside India, like in Melbourne for Melanudi kannada sangha and few others in UK.
He has composed music for a few movies too. Some of his notable compositions include the composition of music for Mysooru Mallige – a classic work of noted poet K.S. Narasimhaswamy and his compositions of Kannada saint Santa Shishunala Sharifa's works.
A pioneer of Kannada "Sugama Sangeetha" (light music), the versatile singer had over 70 albums to his credit. In the 1990s, Rajkumar, the undisputed king of Kannada moviedom, had sung Kuvempu's 'Elladaroo Iru Entadaroo Iru' under the music direction of C. Ashwath, which became very popular.
In the 80's he was in to film music with noted music director of South India L Vaidyanathan. The duo was famous as Ashwath-Vaidhy and composed melodious music for many notable movies like
Anupama (Olume Poojegende, Bartaale Bartaale, etc.) Aalemane (Nammoora Mandaara Hoove) Kaanchana Mruga (ee savidina endendu) Baadada Hoovu (Hoova Nodu Aaaha Entha) Bhoolokadalli Yamaraaja (Endoo Kaanada belaka kande) Naarada Vijaya (Entha Lokavayya)
The first film he independently scored music was Kakana Kote. Later followed Chinnari Mutha, Santha Shishunala Sharief, Mysoora Mallige, Kotreshi Kanasu, Nagamandala and few other films in Kannada.
The "Kannadave sathya" live concert, which was held in Palace Gorunds, Bangaluru Date: 23 April 2005, Headed by Him, was the great success which gathered around a lakh audience for the show.
Ashwath.