Trichur C. Narendran | Photo credit: Special arrangement
He accompanied the who’s who of Carnatic music. Trichur C. Narendran is one of the leading mridangists, he has performed with excellent vocalists of various generations.
Critics often praised his remarkable skills on the mridangam. But he had his photo published in a newspaper a long time ago, actually back in the 1960s. Mr. Narendran won the first prize for Percussion in 1964 at the State School Arts Festival.
“This year’s festival was held in Thiruvalla and the competition was tough,” Mr. Narendran told The Hindu. “Even in the Thrissur District Festival there were many talented artistes; I represented MJDHS, Kunnamkulam. I remember in the State Festival I was the first contestant and performed Thani Avarthanam in Khanda Chapu.”
In his illustrious career, Mr. Narendran went on to accompany the likes of M. Balamuralikrishna, MS Subbulakshmi, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Semmangudi Srinivas, KV Narayana Swamy, MD Ramanathan, Maharajapuram Santhanam, ML, Vasantha Krishnada, Bjomambay Jayashree and Sudha Raghunathan.
When he performed with Neyyattinkara Vasudevan in Thiruvananthapuram in 1977, he was remembered by one of the judges of the school festival. “Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair actually told me that he already knew in those days that I would make it,” said Mr. Narendran, who lives in Chennai.
Mr. Narendran would be missing from this year’s school festival here in his hometown.
He said he had been to several festivals as a judge. “Our school festival is really unique because it provides a great platform for budding talent,” he said. “I remember in Thiruvalla, violinist B. Sasikumar was a contestant. Mr. Sasikumar stood first in his event. Flutist KS Gopalakrishnan was also a winner that year.
Published – 13 Jan 2026 21:26 IST
