It’s a feat possible only for a blessed soul like Pt Janardhan Mitta. A musician par excellence, Pt Janardhan has the credit of introducing and elevating the stature of Sitar in South Indian film industry. Its a great honour to remember the living legend on the occassion of world music day.
Sreelakshmi Avadhanam
Manasuna Manasai……Ee divilo virisina Parijatamo……Prati Ratri Vasanta Ratri……
The conspicuous sitar strings that resonate in the background of these old gold film melodies are by Pandit Janardhan Mitta, a living legend of South Indian Film Music.
Pandit Janardhan is synonymous with sitar in the South Indian film Industry. His elaborate musical career spanning over 60 years speaks volumes about his association and dedication in the film music industry. Playing of Sitar in an unimaginable number of over 25,000 songs and background music in large number of films. It’s a feat possible only for a blessed soul like Pt Janardhan Mitta. A musician par excellence, Pt Janardhan has the credit of introducing and elevating the stature of Sitar in South Indian film industry.
Heis an ardent musician with a penchant for the art. As a disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, he created a niche for himself in the field of classical and film music. Possibly he is one of the few living legends in the South Indian film industry who has excelled in both classical and film music.
Early Life
Pt Janardhan hails from a musical family. He was born on 12th May, 1934 and his parents are Sri Mitta Lakshmi Narasaiah and Smt Lakshmamma. Sri Mitta Lakshmi Narsaiah was an eminent lawyer and also a patron of classical music.
The sitar which his elder sister left at their place after she got married, caught the attention of young Janardhan.
Pt Janardhan’s father patronized classical music and invited prominent musicians for chamber concerts at their palatial house in Hyderabad. Pt Janardhan was exposed to classical music right from his childhood and was attracted to Sitar at an early age. The sitar which his elder sister left at their place after she got married, caught the attention of young Janardhan. The cultural and musical ambience of the house created a learning urge in his heart and as he had a natural flair for the instrument, he could adapt very well within a short span of time to the nuances of the instrument.
Constant acquaintance with classical music helped him to learn Sitar on his own. He improvised his skills to an extent of performing on Deccan Radio at a very young age. He was a recognized artist of All India Radio in 1952. In 1955 when Pt Ravi Shankar happened to listen to his concert, he was impressed with the musical acumen of Pt Janardhan. When his father requested Pt Ravishankar to accept his son as his disciple, he had a broad vision for Janardhan. It was a blessing for Janardhan when Pandit Ravi Shankar acceded to the request. But it also involved a huge risk and sacrifice as Janardhan had to decide his career path. To forgo engineering degree in those days was a major decision and it proved right when Janardhan proved his talent and settled in film industry. He later completed his education with a master’s degree in Sociology.
He regularly visited Delhi and Varanasi to interact and refine his musical skills with his guru.
He worked with all eminent music directors from yester years like Master Venu, Pendyala, S Rajeswara Rao, Chakravarthy, Ilayaraja, , to the present AR Rahman Sri Lekha, Devi Sri Prasad, G V Prakash, Aniruddh.
Brush with Film Music
Pt Janardhan started his film music career in 1958. His initial assignment was with Master Venu in 1958 for the movie ‘Bhagya Devatha’ at Saradhi Studios in Hyderabad. Later, opportunities poured in and with the encouragement of music directors, he shifted his base to erstwhile Madras in 1959. Since then, there was no looking back. Pt Janardhan carved a niche for himself. No wonder he rendered sitar in thousands of film songs in all most all Indian languages.
He rendered Sitar for the songs of Ghantasala, Bhanumati, P Leela, Janaki, Vani Jayaram, Yesudas, SP Balasubramanyam.
He worked with all eminent music directors from yester years like Master Venu, Pendyala, S Rajeswara Rao, Chakravarthy, Ilayaraja, , to the present AR Rahman Sri Lekha, Devi Sri Prasad, G V Prakash, Aniruddh.
His innovative incredible confluence of Gayaki and tantraki techniques is being well appreciated and acclaimed in the realm of classical music.
Journey in Classical music
It is a tight rope walk to balance classical and film music career simultaneously. Pt Janardhan ably handled both the fields with utmost precision and planning. He excelled in classical music and performed on all prestigious platforms around the world and popularized Indian classical music. His innovative incredible confluence of Gayaki and tantraki techniques is being well appreciated and acclaimed in the realm of classical music.
In 1983, he had the privilege of performing along with his guru Pt Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain at IIT Madras
He collaborated with eminent Classical musicians like TN Krishnan, V Raghavan, M Chandra Sekhar, MS Gopala Krishanan, Kanya Kumari, Ravikiran for Jugalbandi concerts and proved his mettle. He has the honour of performing at the United Nations in 1971. Pt Janardhan was the first Sitar artist to perform at the auspicious Tyagaraja Aradhana at Tiruvayyur with the encouragement of Dr M Balamurali Krishna.
He innovated a fusion medley with different styles of music that involves complicated technical knowledge like grahabedam.
Pt Janardhan inherited his father’s generosity to encourage musicians. He initiated ‘Viswa Kala Sangam” to create a platform for enthusiastic musicans. Since 2000, he has been organizing “Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan” and felicitates eminent artists of Carnatic and Hindustani Classical music.
Pt Janardhan inherited his father’s generosity to encourage musicians. He initiated ‘Viswa Kala Sangam” to create a platform for enthusiastic musicans.
As Music Director
Agni Samskaram: a movie on untouchability released by the government of Andhra Pradesh
Rangula Kala, an international critically acclaimed movie of B Narasinga Rao
Esthappan, a Malayalam movie
Dharma Nirnayam an unreleased movie
International exposure
He toured the USA along with Ghantasala in 1971. It was during their entourage that NRI Telugu people got the idea of starting TANA, Telugu Association of North America. Ghantasala always allotted a solo performance slot for Pt Janardhan.
In 1985, he visited TANA as an ambassador of Andhra Pradesh government. Later to Srianka in 1993, Singapore in 1994, ATA in 2008 and several other countries.
He was a part of youth delegation to Europe and performed in several concerts.
In 2008, his trip to France along with Kalaimamani Kanyakumari for fusion concert earned him fame He also collaborated with international bands like Oxygen, Strings and bands from other countries for fusion music.
Documentaries
• Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi. Music Director Salil Chaudary gave him the liberty to render on his own. This film had lot of potential for Sitar.
• Dancing Nataraja
• Golden Jubilee of OU
• Srisailam Malanna
• Flower Show
