Thiruvizha Jayashankar


Thiruvizha Jayashankar is an Indian classical musician and a well known Nadaswaram expert in South India.

Early life and education

Born in the family of musicians in a small village Thiruvizha, Alleppey, Jayashankar was keen to learn music and drawing in his childhood. He is the son of nadaswara maestro Thiruvizha Raghava Panickar and grandson of Thiruvizha Sanku Panickar. Jayashankar opted for preliminary lessons in the nagaswaram under his grandfather and later received advanced training from his father with whom he began playing in the temples of central Travancore almost on a regular basis. His debut performance was in the year 1955 at the age of 16 which was held at the Pathiyoor Devi Temple, Kayamkulam.
He has completed his diploma in music from RLV College of Music and Fine Arts in 1957. noted Indian playback singer K. J. Yesudas was his batch mate. After the completion of diploma course, he has taken BA degree in music from Government College, Chittur near Palakkad and post graduate diploma from Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Trivandrum

Career

Jayashankar opted for a central Government job in All India Radio, Thiruvananthapuram in 1965 and worked there till retirement. He was also a visiting professor at Annamalai University, Chidambaram.
His musical journey with great Tavil mastro Valayapetty Subramaniam proved to be a landmark in live Nagaswara concerts. Haripad Murukadas and Vettikkavala Sasi Kumar are few of his famous disciples.

Awards and recognition