Background
His father Konnakol T. P. Gopalachari, a musician himself, was running a Music Sabha in Salem. Young Ramabhadran was fascinated by the music concerts and started learning Mridangam from his father at the age of eight.
His father Konnakol T. P. Gopalachari, a musician himself, was running a Music Sabha in Salem. Young Ramabhadran was fascinated by the music concerts and started learning Mridangam from his father at the age of eight.
Born in Salem District, he showed interest in Carnatic music even at an early age. This sabha conducted competitions in Carnatic music among children. Maestros like Kancheepuram Naina Pillai, Palghat Mani Iyer and Pudukottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai judged competitors and awarded prizes.
M. South. Subbulakshmi has given a concert in this Sabha in 1936 During World World War II people living in Madras (presently, Chennai) evacuated the city and moved to interior towns and villages.
In 1942, Thiruparkadal Srinivasa Iyengar moved from Chennai to Salem. lieutenant gave an opportunity for Ramabhadran to learn vocal music from him.
Ramabhadran moved to Chennai in 1950 and took residence at Mylapore. North. V. North. South. R. North. Ramabhadran went to United States of America for the first time in 1962 with Veena maestro South. Balachandar and North. Ramani.
They performed in many cities and universities from coast to coast.
He performed in the Festivals of India held in the United Kingdom, United States of America and United States.S.R. Ramabhadran recalls performing a concert for the prisoners in the Palayamkottai Central Prison in 1948 is an unforgettable experience. He accompanied M. M. Dandapani Desikarin that concert. The award was accorded by the Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
Ramabhadran opines that Mridangam is an accompanying instrument and it should not interrupt the main artiste.
The Mridangam artiste can show his skill during the few minutes he/she is given for "Thani Avarthanam" (Solo interludes). Ramabhadran accompanied K. J. Yesudas on the mridangan for the song "Mari, mari, ninne" in the Tamil film Sindhu Bhairavi produced by K. Balachandar.
The film scene shows actor Sivakumar as the singer and Delhi Ganesh as the mridangam artiste. Ramabhadran died on February 27, 2012 aged 82.
