Embar Kannan

Embar Kannan, hails from a family of musicians. Although he holds a post graduate degree in commerce, from the Madras University, music has been his raison’d’etre. Living up to his father, Sangeetha Bhooshanam, Sri Embar Sadagopan’s dream to see his son as a concert artist, Kannan took to the violin at the tender age of 6. He had his initial training in Carnatic music under Sri Subbanna Bhagavatar and Vittal Ramamurthy and in western classical music under Music Director Diwakar master. He then continued his formal training in the violin under SNA awardee, Padma Shri, Sangita Kalanidhi Kanyakumari. Kannan has inherited the mantle of the illustrious Embar family from his father Vidwan Sangeetha Bhooshanam Shri Embar Sadagopan and mother Smt Padmasani Sadagopan and is acknowledged as a violinist par excellence. Kannan is an A - TOP Grade with the All India Radio, a recognition given only to top ranking artists. Universally acclaimed as a violinist with extraordinary bowing quality and remarkably sweet playing, his style is marked by clarity, soulfulness and energy. Subbudu, the doyen among critics recognized Kannan as a prized jewel of Carnatic music as early as 1991. He remarked that Kannan’s music had the grace and ease of a Russian Ballerina. Violinists hold a unique pride of place in carnatic music. As concert accompanists, they shoulder the twin responsibilities of perceiving the mind-sets of vocalists, anticipating, reproducing and blending in with their music, even as they retain their individual identities. Kannan’s uncanny flair in this aspect has made him one of the most sought after accompanists in his time and he enthralls audiences, the world over with his music. Cinema Kannan’s debut to cinema music was through the movie Puli Petra Pillai by Sri. Diwakar when he was just 11 years old. Soon he started to play for Kannada movies under the music direction of Sri Vasu Rao son of the legendary composer Sri Rajeshwara Rao. It is a blessing for Kannan to be a part of Maestro Ilayaraja’s troupe since 1991. Besides the Maestro, Kannan has worked with other leading south Indian music directors including Karthick Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, M Jayachandran, Vidyasagar, MM Keeravani, Sharath, A.R. Rehman, Deva and GV Prakash. In short, he has played for all the leading music directors in all the four South Indian languages. Noteworthy among the films Kannan has played for are Mogha Mull, Dum Dum Dum, Kandanaal Mudalai, Ivan, Parthiban Kanavu, Shivaji, Raja Rani. Composing Kannan started composing as early as when he was all of 18 by venturing for the Tele serial ‘Manidha Kadhal’ in 1993. Kannan has composed music for several classical and devotional albums including Azhwar Pasurangal, Nandanaar Charitram, Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Sevaamrutham etc. He has also composed music for several dance ballets. To mention a few Rangoli 25 for Ms Malathy Iyenger, Brahmasmi,, Srinivasa Kalyanam, Vande Mataram, Jaya Kalyana Krishnam for Sridevi Nrithyalaya, Thadathagai for Ms Urmila Sathyanarayanan, Azhagar Kuravanji for Ms Smitha Madhav, Aham Pravahini a musical production for Shobana Balachandran. He has composed music exclusively for Singapore Indian Orchestra Choir (SIOC) and Apsaras Arts Academy Singapore. Kannan has played a vital role in several Dance Productions, classical, non classical, devotional albums, much more than being an accompanying artist. Collaboration Kannan’s collaborative works include Le rythme de la parole – Sudha Raghunathan, Listening to Life by Bombay Jayshri, Jugalbandi – Subha Mudgal and Bombay Jayshri, Common Wealth Games 2018. CrossRoads is a band found and lead by Kannan. He performs a travelogue blending in the world music as a gentle traveler travels to the different parts of the world. Fusion concerts since 1999 and has performed in International Forums. Performed at the Alhambara Palace in Spain in 2004. He has collaborated with African and Iranian musicians for performance across Europe in 2004 and performed at the Morocco International Music Festival with Le Rhythm De La Parole from 2002 to 2006. He has also performed at the International Folk Music festival in Norway from 2002 and 2006.