Ravindra Yavagal

Pandit Ravindra Yavagal
Born on 27th November 1959 in Hubli, Karnataka, to Smt. Parvatibai and Late Sri Ramachandra Yavagal, Pandit Ravindra Yavagal was introduced to music at a very young age by his father. His formal journey with the tabla began under Sri Veeranna Kamkar of Hubli, and was further enriched under the tutelage of Pandit Sheshagiri Hanagal, the renowned tabla maestro from Dharwad, who shaped and nurtured his artistic brilliance. He was also fortunate to receive guidance from Pandit Lalji Gokhale, a disciple of the legendary Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa.

A Top Rank artiste of All India Radio and a Post Graduate in Music from Indira Kala Vishvavidyalaya, Khairagarh (M.P), Pandit Yavagal stands as one of India’s most sought-after tabla exponents.

With a career spanning decades, he has enthralled audiences with his unmatched command over rhythm, remarkable versatility, and creative style — a true blend of rigorous training and deep musical sensitivity. Revered equally as a captivating soloist and a highly respected accompanist, he has performed alongside some of the greatest vocalists and instrumentalists of our times, leaving an indelible mark on every stage he graces.

Contributions

Pandit Ravindra Yavagal’s contributions to the world of music go far beyond the concert stage.

• The Government of Karnataka nominated him as an Honorary Member of the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy (2002–2004), where he worked actively for the betterment of music.

• He served on the Advisory Committee of the Directorate of Text Books, Government of Karnataka, and played a key role as scrutinizer in preparing Talavadya Text Books for proficiency-level students.

• A dedicated guru, he has been passionately training young aspirants, many of whom have established themselves in both classical and semi-classical genres. As a gesture of love and respect, his disciples released a documentary film, “The Divine Hands of Tabla”, capturing his life, experiences, and achievements.

In 2006, with the vision of promoting, popularizing, and nurturing diverse facets of music, he founded a public charitable trust, Shri Rama Kala Vedike®, in memory of his father Late Sri Ramachandra Yavagal. The trust organizes socio-cultural and musical activities, supports young talent, and extends financial aid to needy musicians. Pandit Yavagal continues to guide its activities as the Managing Trustee.

He also served as a senior-most member of All India Radio, Bangalore, contributing significantly for over 37 years as a Selection Grade Artiste.

A creative and versatile musician, Pandit Yavagal has embraced collaborative and experimental music. He has shared the stage with legends of Carnatic music such as Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Prof. T.N. Krishnan, Sri Umayalapuram K. Shivaraman, Sri Guruvayur Dorai, Late Sri Tanjore Upendran, and Sri Yella Venkateshwara Rao, among others.

His artistry has reached far and wide through numerous Radio and Television performances, lecture-demonstrations at esteemed institutions, and international tours across the USA, France, Egypt, Hong Kong, and beyond.

Adding to his legacy as a soloist, he has also released a tabla album titled “Gati – Soul of Rhythm”, along with many other recordings in the classical genre.