Pt Chhannulal Mishra

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra is one of the greatest and most gifted classical vocalists of India. He can be reckoned among the all time great vocalists to hail from the ancient city of Varanasi, Playing on the 'Swarmandal' Shri Mishra holds his audience spell-bound with his mellifluous rendition, He has the distinction of being a Versatile Vocalist, equally proficient in classical and light classical music such as Khayal, Dadra, Thumri, Chaiti, Kajri, Sawani, Holi and Bhajan.

Pt. Chhannulal Mishra was born on the third of August 1936. He had his first lessons of classical music from the late Pt. Badri Prasad Mishra, his father, Having been initiated into the nuances of music by his father, he moved from his place of birth (Village Hariharpur in district Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh), to learn music at the feet of Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of the Kirana gharana until the renowned musicologist, the late Padmabhushan Thakur Jaidev Singh offered to groom his adolescent prodigy into the subtleties of Indian Classical music. This bond of the teacher and the taught, the master and the pupil was nurtured in the time honoured tradition of Guru-shishya parampara'.
Although the vocal style which Mishra ji has evolved is a blend of the ecstatic Kirana Badhat and the highly embellished features of the Patiala Gharana His Classical pieces reveal a fascinating harmony of Punjab, Purab and Gaya Styles. Yet' it can be said for Panditji that he has transcended the confines of gharana styles and has brought into his singing a streak of spirituality. His eclectic style thus draws on leading traditions of lnidan Classical and. Semi Classical music. His elaborations are distinguished by his aesthetic approach, and his rich understanding of the literature, or Sahitya of Music.

Pt. Chhannulal Mishra has been blessed with an extraordinary musical fluidity. He wears his natural genius easily, displaying easy mastery over rhythm and melody, any listener at a Mishra ji concert is dazzled at, the majestic ease with which he renders musical sequences without any obvious effort or deliberation.

Pt. Chhannulal Mishra has travelled extensively and has performed at numerous musical conferences and concerts both in India and abroad, He was also invited by I.C.C.R, during the 50th anniversary celebrations of India's Independence, and he toured and performed at many places in the U.S.A. including Washington DC, New York and Chicago. He had the privilege of presenting his concert at the Smithsonian in the Air and Space auditorium (Washington D.C.). In recognition of his musical acumen, Mishra ji has been distinguished with numerous high honours. He is a Top Grade artist at the AII India Radio and the Doordarshan. He is also the member of Ministry of Culture (North-central) Govt. of India. He has also released many albums which include a wide variety of melodic variations, all sung in his characteristic sensuous voice.

Mishra ji is the son-in law of the late Pt. Anokhelal Mishra, the Tabla maestro of India. His son Pt. Ram Kumar Mishra is an emerging Tabla maestro. Shri Mishra Ji performs regularly in India as well as abroad. He currently lives in varanasi, where he teaches music not only to Indian students, but also to many foreign students, thus transferring his knowledge and perpetuating his musical legacy.