Mysuru: Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Pandit Indudhar Nirody (91), one of the eminent musicians and revered gurus of Hindustani classical music, passed away yesterday, in Panvel, Maharashtra, following a brief illness. He was born on July 11, 1935.

A senior vocalist of the Agra Gharana, Pandit Nirody received his training from several stalwarts, including Pandit K.G. Ginde, Pandit S.C.R. Bhatt, Pandit Chidanand Nagarkar and Pandit Dinkar Kaikini.

Having moved to Mysuru around 2002 and lived in Kuvempunagar and Saraswathipuram, Pandit Nirody accomplished an extraordinary musical undertaking here. In his eighties, he completed the monumental task of rendering and recording all 1,896 compositions contained in Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande’s Kramik Pustak Malika.

Having pursued and mastered Hindustani classical music with the dedication of a spiritual discipline, this true siddhipurusha was honoured with the Kendra  Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2014 and received an Honorary Doctorate from Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University in 2015.

After retiring from his service with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), he devoted himself to teaching and shared his knowledge with numerous students. Among his prominent disciples are Vidushi V. Aditi Kaikini, Pandit Vyasamurthy Katti, Pandit Veerabhadraiah Hiremath and Dr. M.S. Bhaskar.

Pandit Nirody lived in Mysuru until 2024. Through his music and teaching, he played an important role in strengthening the roots of Hindustani classical music in Mysuru and earned the deep affection and respect of music-lovers.

A documentary on his life and music, made jointly by Dr. Manohar and Ranjit Sethu, is available on YouTube.

Pandit Nirody is survived by his wife, Padmavathi Nirody and leaves behind countless admirers and students.