Remembering Chhannulal Mishra, voice of Banaras
His thumri renditions enriched the Purab Ang tradition
Updated At : 07:29 AM Oct 23, 2025 IST
Pt Chhannulal Mishra was trained in the khayal stream, known for its unhurried exploration of the raga. File Photo: PTI
Chhannulal Mishra was into his late 30s and an established Hindustani musician when he moved to Banaras in the mid-1970s. Yet the rest of his life’s association with the pilgrimage city defined his overall artistry so intensely that the vocalist went on to be acknowledged as an authentic voice of the Banaras gharana. Indeed, Panditji’s famed semi-classical songs resonated with core Bhojpuri culture. What’s more, his improvisations in thumri enriched the emotiveness of its Purab Ang tradition steeped in lyricism.
