Palai C.K. Ramachandran
{{Short description|Indian Carnatic musician}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Palai C.K. Ramachandran
| birth_date = 1929
| birth_place = Palai, Kerala, India
| occupation = Carnatic musician, music teacher
| known_for = Contributions to Carnatic music education and performance
| awards = Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2019)
Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram (2011)
Swathi Music Award (2020)
Madras Music Academy Gold Medal (1959)
}}
Palai C.K. Ramachandran (born 1929) is an Indian Carnatic musician and music teacher from Kerala, known for his contributions to Carnatic music education and performance, and for receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2019.{{cite web |title=Palai C K Ramachandran |url=https://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/awardees/docs/1740996549_Palai%20C%20K%20Ramachandran_11zon.pdf |website=Sangeet Natak Akademi |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Early life and education
Ramachandran was born in 1929 in Palai, Kerala. He began learning Carnatic music at a young age and trained under several musicians. In 1959, he received a scholarship from the Government of India to study music in Chennai, where he trained under prominent Carnatic musician Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.{{cite web |title=Meet a winner from six decades ago |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/meet-a-winner-from-six-decades-ago/article30100161.ece |website=The Hindu |date=25 November 2019 |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Career
Ramachandran worked as a music teacher at the Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram, where he taught for several decades until his retirement in 1984. He has performed as a vocalist in Carnatic music concerts and has been recognized for his adherence to traditional styles.{{cite web |title=Award for Palai Ramachandran |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/award-for-palai-ramachandran/article2226680.ece |website=The Hindu |date=9 June 2011 |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Awards and recognition
- In 1959, Ramachandran won a gold medal at the Carnatic music competition organized by the Madras Music Academy.
- In 2011, he was awarded the Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram by the Government of Kerala for his contributions to Carnatic music.
- In 2019, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contributions to Carnatic music.
- In 2020, he received the Swathi Music Award from the Swathi Music Festival, alongside Carnatic musician T. M. Krishna.{{cite web |title=Swathi Music Award for Pala C.K. Ramachandran, T.M. Krishna |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/Feb/02/swathi-music-award-for-pala-ck-ramachandran-tm-krishna-2258667.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=2 February 2021 |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Personal life
As of 2019, Ramachandran resided in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and remained active in music-related activities.