Acharya Devo Bhava
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥
Nattuvangam Guru:
Dr. B H A V A N I S H A N K A R
Dr. Bhavani Shankar, a name synonymous to the
exactitude of Rhythm par excellence, is an unparalleled talent of prudent
classism. He is honored with Doctorate from KEISEI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY in
recognition of his achievements, contributions and especially a firm approach
to the area of Rhythm life for Dance.
His saga of achievements and accomplishments
is very interesting and intrinsic.
He was born into a
family of artistes as the eldest son of the legendary Bharatanatyam artiste
Karnataka Kalashree Guru K. Shiva Rao and Smt. Padmavathi S. Rao. He was
academically trained by esteemed educational institutions of Bangalore.
A B. Sc
degree holder, a multi tasker, he received Mridangam training from illustrious
gurus- Sri R. Srivasan, Vid. M. Vasudev Rao and legendary Padma Vibhushan Dr.
Umayalpuram K Sivaraman.
He
secured First Rank in his Mridangam Proficiency exam in 1983 conducted by the
KSEEB and also passed his Senior grade Bharatanatyam exam by the same board.
He started enticing art connoisseurs by his
alluring performances right from the
young age of twelve. He has ably
accompanied legendary music and dance artistes across the world.
His talent was recognized by Sri. Mathoor
Krishna Murthy, a prolific scholar of Sanskrit and Indian studies and Director
of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London where he was invited to join the faculty of
Indian Music and Dance.
He served the field
of Carnatic music at various splendid strata as a Panelist for Arts Council,
England, Adjudicator at Croydon Music festival, Kingston upon Thames Music
Festival, UK, Watford Music Festival, UK.
He enriched score’s
of cassettes both Audio and Visual in India and other parts of the world with
his enchanting music expertise.
Being a great adherent of stringent tradition
and pristine purity of the time tested art, he has an open mind for new ideas
and constructive improvisations.
His album ‘RHYTHM
DIVINE’, was the first South Indian drum album, released in 2003 on the Dream
Records label, that was accredited as the Best Album of South Indian
percussion. It gains
high exigency in music fraternity even today.
He has actively associated himself with
experimental works in collaboration with the votaries of Western music such as
MASSIVE ATTACK, an album that received global adulation.
He has co-founded SAMUDRA, a performing arts
company in 1996, propagating and promoting Indian Music and Dance.
He had a brief movie
Career acting as Nachiketha in the movie Adi Shankaracharaya, first ever
Sanskrit movie directed and produced by the great scholar, Sri. G. V. Iyer.
He is recognized as
an illustrious torch bearer of Indian traditional music and its magnanimity
even beyond borders.
He is awarded with the title-Mridanga Chatura in
1984, the youngest percussionist to be awarded this title, by Bangalore Gayana
Samaja, Best Percussionist in 1983 in recognition of his outstanding ability in
playing Ghatam at the art festival. He has received 1996 Arts Council of England Grant, UK, the most
prestigious honor for a master in the traditional arts to perform outside UK.
Dr. Bhavani Shankar,
a profound personality of great art and heart is a true stalwart inspiring
generations of artistes with his immaculate music knowledge and a very pious
life of high thinking and simple living.
