In the early hours of 2 October 2025, a radiant flame of Indian classical music was extinguished in Varanasi. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, an unparalleled maestro of the Banaras gharana and one of the finest exponents of the Purab Ang of Thumri, passed away at the age of 89. His death marks the end of an era in Hindustani music, leaving behind a profound legacy of devotion, artistry and scholarship.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Training
Chhannulal Mishra was born on 3 August 1936 in Hariharpur, a village in Azamgarh district, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Badri Prasad Mishra, was also a musician, under whose guidance he began his early training. He later went on to study under Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of the Kirana gharana, and subsequently under Thakur Jaidev Singh. This long and rigorous journey of discipline and practice shaped him into a consummate artist, equally at home in Khayal, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, Hori, and above all, Thumri.
Musical Career and Contributions
Pandit Mishra embodied the spirit of the Banaras gharana. His music was a seamless confluence of folk sensibilities, devotional fervour and the rigour of classical tradition. While his mastery of Khayal was unquestionable, it was in the emotive expanse of the Purab Ang Thumri that he touched countless hearts. His renditions of bol-banāo Thumri were known for their exquisite ornamentation and profound expression, where each word seemed to flow with melodic tenderness.
His artistry was not confined to the concert stage alone. He enriched the repertoire of Indian music with numerous recordings. His discography includes gems such as Ramcharitmanas, Kabir, Sundar Kand, Shiv Vivah, Holi Ke Rang – Tesu Ke Phool, Purvaiya Chaiti, Purvaiya Kajri, Spirit of Benares and Krishna – From the Heart of Benaras. Through these works, he gave a modern audience access to age-old traditions. His voice also reached the world of cinema, with memorable contributions to films like Mohalla Assi and Aarakshan.
Awards and Honours
Over his long and illustrious career, Pandit Chhannulal Mishra received many accolades and honours, including:
The Shiromani Award, Sur Singar Sansad, Mumbai
The Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
The Naushad Award (Government of Uttar Pradesh)
The Yash Bharti Award (Government of Uttar Pradesh)
Fellowship of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Government of India)
Bihar Sangeet Shiromani Award
In 2000 he was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. In 2010 he received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, followed in 2020 by the Padma Vibhushan, the nation’s second-highest civilian award.
Personal Life
Pandit Mishra was the son-in-law of the legendary tabla maestro Pandit Anokhelal Mishra. His family, especially his daughter Namrata Mishra, stood by him through his musical and personal journey. His life was dedicated not only to performance but also to passing on the torch of tradition to future generations.
Illness and Passing
In the last years of his life, Pandit Mishra suffered from multiple age-related ailments, including kidney complications, diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and respiratory difficulties. Though he had recently returned home after a spell in hospital, his frail health gave way, and on 2 October 2025, he breathed his last in Varanasi.
Legacy
The Indian musical fraternity stands in mourning at his passing. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra was not merely a singer; he was the very voice of Banaras. Through his Thumris, devotional bhajans, khayals and seasonal folk-inspired melodies, he embodied the soul of India’s eternal cultural spirit. His music will continue to resonate, carrying forward the timeless fragrance of the Ganga and the undying traditions of Hindustani classical music.