H. K. Narayana

H. K. Narayana was a singer and music composer from Karnataka, India. He played an important role in popularizing the genre of Sugama Sangeetha in Kannada. Nadavirada Baduke by Nissar Ahmed, Brundavanake Haalanu Maaralu by Kuvempu and Shubha Nudiye Shakunada Hakki by D. R. Bendre are some of his well-known numbers. He is popular through Navasuma and Geetaraadhana in Radio.

Early life Narayana was born in 1934 at Holenarasipura in Hassan district of Karnataka to Keshavayya and Sannamma. Influenced by his father, who was a musician himself, Narayana developed interest in music early in his life and started learning Violin at a young age of six. He later got his Carnatic classical vocal music lessons from the veteran musician R. K. Srikantan in Mysore. H.K. Narayana was known to be one of the favourite students of R. K. Srikantan. He later switched to Sugama Sangeetha, an area he was much passionate about.

He has composed music for several music based plays including Shringaranayaka of Jayadeva, Chitrangada of Kuvempu, Gita Bharata of Rabindranath Tagore. He has composed music for more than 25 dance dramas abroad.

Death H. K. Narayana died on 8 February 2008 in Bangalore after a prolonged illness. He was 73. He is survived by wife Kanta Narayan and two daughters Manju and Chandrika.

Awards H. K. Narayana has got many awards to his credit.

Karnataka Kalatilaka Award by Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy Rajyotsava Award Chowdaiaha Award Santha Shishunala Sharifa Award Pampa Award Aryabhata Award