Ramnad Krishnan was a important carnatic vocalist of the 20th century. He was a great exponent of sankya (relaxed music) school.

Born on 14th September 1918 at Alleppey in Kerala in a family of musicians. His training was under Ramnad Sankara Sivam. His raga singing gave a revelation of the emotional and the intellectual content of the raga . His unique pallavi renditions in rare and uncommon structures, still haunt the minds of not only the rasikas but even his colleagues.

Ramnad Krishnan was also a great teacher. He served at the faculty of the Govt. College of Carnatic Music at Madras for a few years. He was also a visiting Professor at the Weslyn University, USA for some time where he was reverential called “the musicians’ musician.

I was first exposed to Carnatic Music as a teenager when I stumbled across an Explorer Series Recording at the local public library. This particular record was; Music of South India: Songs of the Carnatic Tradition. At the time I had been practicing some Raja, Hatha, and Bhakti Yoga and had expanded my practice to listening to music, mostly Ravi Shankar.
Having the chance to listen to Ramnad Krishnan moved my Yoga practice, my heart, mind and soul to a much deeper level. I had no idea why at the time and…still don’t, and I don’t need to know why. It simply is.