{{Short description|Indian composer and singer (1939-2009)}} {{for|the actor|K. S. Ashwath}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = C. Ashwath | native_name = | image = C Ashwath.jpg | image_size = | caption = C. Ashwath | birth_name = Ashwatha Narayana | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1939|12|29}} | birth_place = | origin = Channarayapatna | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2009|12|29|1939|12|29}} | death_place = Bengaluru | genre = Bhavageete, Janapada Geete (Traditional Indian light and folk music) | occupation = lyricist, Singer, composer | years_active = 1969–2009 | label = | website = | honorific_prefix = }}

'''Channarayapatna Ashwath''' ('''''{{langx|kn|ಸಿ. ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥ್ |lit=C. Ashwath}}'''''; 29 December 1939 &ndash; 29 December 2009) was an Indian music composer and exponent of Bhavageete ("expressive poetry") in the Kannada language. He was also a singer, and sang many of his own compositions. He was credited with singing Bhavageete songs and making sure that they reached the common man.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2009-12-30 |title=Ashwath passes away |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/43977/ashwath-passes-away.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education== He was born on 29 December 1939, in Channarayapatna near Devanahalli. He was born into a family rich in traditional and cultural influences. He grew up in the Chamarajpete area of Bangalore. After completing his higher education in Acharaya Pathashala School of NR Colony, he graduated in Science from National College, Basavanagudi and later worked in Indian Telephone Industries for 27 years before retiring as an Executive Engineer in 1992. He started his musical career as a disciple of Devagiri Shankara Joshi in Hindustani music.<ref name=":0" />

==Movies== The first film he independently scored music was Kakana Kote. Later followed Chinnari Mutha, Santha Shishunala Sharief, Mysoora Mallige, Kotreshi Kanasu, Nagamandala and few other films in Kannada.{{fact|date=March 2026}}

Some of his notable compositions include the composition of music for Mysooru Mallige &ndash; a classic work of noted poet K.S. Narasimhaswamy and his compositions of Kannada saint Santa Shishunala Sharifa's works.{{fact|date=March 2026}}

L. Vaidyanathan met C. Ashwath during the recording of the film ''Kakana Kote'' in 1976. This meeting led them on to a strong relationship of almost three decades. L. Vaidyanathan provided the orchestra for many of Ashwath's compositions, but it was with the film ''Yene Barali Preeti Irali'' that the Ashwath-Vaidi duo became collaborators of great music.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ganesh |first=Deepa |date=2018-10-17 |title=Exalted meanings |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/exalted-meanings/article25247765.ece |access-date=2023-03-09 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

*Anupama (Olume Poojegende, Bartaale Bartaale, etc.) *Aalemane (Nammoora Mandaara Hoove) *Kaanchana Mruga (ee savidina endendu) *Baadada Hoo (Hoova Nodu Aaaha Entha) *Bhoolokadalli Yamaraaja (Endoo kaanada belaka kande) *Narada Vijaya (Idu entha lokavayya)

==Discography==

===Films=== {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Film title !! Notes |- | 1977 || ''Kakana Kote'' || Arrangement by L. Vaidyanathan |- | 1977 || ''Anuroopa'' || Guest composer along with Rajeev Taranath |- | 1978 || ''Lakshmi'' || Unreleased film |- | 1978 || ''Spandana'' || Arrangement by L. Vaidyanathan <br> '''Won''' Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director |- | 1979 || ''Bhoolokadalli Yamaraja'' || |- | 1979 || ''Doddamane Estate'' || |- | 1979 || ''Ene Barali Preethi Irali'' || Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1980 || ''Anurakthe'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1980 || ''Narada Vijaya'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1981 || ''Aalemane'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1981 || ''Anupama'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1981 || ''Kanchana Mruga'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1982 || ''Baadada Hoo'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1983 || ''Simhasana'' |Credited as "Ashwath - Vaidi" |- | 1986 || ''Shanka Naada'' || Arrangement by Guna Singh |- | 1988 || ''Aasphota'' || |- | 1990 || ''Santha Shishunala Sharifa'' || |- | 1991 || ''Mysore Mallige'' || '''Won''' Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada |- | 1993 || ''Chinnari Mutha'' || '''Won''' Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director |- | 1994 || ''Kotreshi Kanasu'' || |- | 1997 || ''Nagamandala'' || |- |1998 |Mayamruga |Titletrack of Kannada language teleserial directed by T. N. Seetharam<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kannada |first=TV9 |date=2021-05-28 |title=23 ವರ್ಷವಾದರೂ ಮಾಸದ 'ಮಾಯಾಮೃಗ' ಹಾಡು ಕಂಪೋಸ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದು ಲಂಚ್ ಬ್ರೇಕ್ನ ಕೆಲವೇ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ |url=https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/mayamruga-kannada-serial-director-tn-seetharam-talks-about-title-song-and-c-ashwath-mdn-227837.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=TV9 Kannada |language=kn}}</ref> |- | 2001 || ''Mathadana'' || |- | 2003 || ''Singaaravva'' || |- | 2006 || ''Desi'' || |- | 2009 || ''Hongirana'' || |}

thumb|right|C. Ashwath singing on stage

== Style == A pioneer of Kannada "Sugama Sangeetha" (light music), the versatile singer had over 75 albums to his credit.

C. Ashwath is a household name in Karnataka. He is, perhaps the only music director in Karnataka, to have carved a niche of his own in all three fields that demand music as an element of expression: Theatre, Sugama Sangeetha and movies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-16 |title=Karnataka's defining moments: A music genre that takes poetry to the people |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/special-features/karnatakas-defining-moments-a-music-genre-that-takes-poetry-to-the-people-927836.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Ashwath has also brought out an album titled "Nesara Noodu" which consists of 21 drama songs of his direction.<ref>{{Citation |title=Nesara Nodu (Ranga Geethegalu) Vol – 01 {{!}} Kannada Audio Jukebox 2018 {{!}} C.Ashwath Musical {{!}} Kannada | date=7 May 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMOINSq1Pw8 |access-date=2023-03-09 |language=en}}</ref>

In the 1990s, Rajkumar had sung Kuvempu's 'Elladaroo Iru Entadaroo Iru' under the music direction of C.Ashwath, which became very popular.<ref>{{Citation |title=Elladaru Iru Enthadaru Iru Lyrical Video Song {{!}} Dr Rajkumar, Kuvempu, C Ashwath {{!}} Kannada Songs | date=31 October 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXPnnroHEOE |access-date=2023-03-09 |language=en}}</ref>

==Performance == The '''Kannadave Sathya''' live concert, which was held in Palace Grounds, Bengaluru on 23 April 2005, headed by Ashwath, was the great success which witnessed around a lakh audience for the show. This was the first time a Kannada Musical event was taken place here, while many western and other Indian language programs taken place in the past.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Harsha Bhat|date=3 March 2014 |title=An evening of lyrical beauty |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/lounge/c-ashwath-sugama-sangeetha-light-music-md-pallavi/articleshow/31350130.cms |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}</ref>

==Death== He died on 29 December 2009 <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/43919/end-came-his-70th-birthday.html | title=End came on his 70th birthday | date=29 December 2009 | newspaper=Deccan Herald | access-date=8 July 2018 }}</ref> on his 70th birthday. He was suffering from renal and liver failures.<ref>[http://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/dec/29/south-ashwath-dead.htm Kannada composer C Ashwath dies] Rediff.com. Retrieved on 29 December 2009.</ref> His friends and well wishers had planned to celebrate his 70th birthday in a special way and Swamiji of Suttur Mutt and Virendra Hegde were to facilitate him followed by singing his popular songs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The song lingers on |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2009/dec/30/the-song-lingers-on-117392.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=The New Indian Express |date=15 May 2012 }}</ref>

==Awards== * 1986: Rajyotsava Award by Government of Karnataka<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Rajyotsava awardees |url=https://karnataka.gov.in/page/Awards/State%20Awards/Rajyotsava+Awards/en |access-date=30 August 2020 |website=Karnataka Govt website |publisher=Govt of Karnataka}}</ref> * 2003: Kavyaganga Award by Attimabbe Foundation<ref>{{cite news |title=Awards for Kannada singers |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/10/stories/2003121011470300.htm |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=10 December 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014044800/http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/10/stories/2003121011470300.htm |archive-date=14 October 2008}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://archive.today/20130217233023/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/top-stories/2009/c-ashwath-passed-away-291209.html One India]

{{FilmfareAwardBestKannadaMusicDirector}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashwath, C.}} Category:1939 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Deaths from liver failure Category:Deaths from kidney failure in India Category:Kannada-language playback singers Category:Kannada film score composers Category:Indian male playback singers Category:Film musicians from Karnataka Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:20th-century Indian composers Category:Bangalore University alumni Category:Singers from Karnataka Category:Indian male film score composers Category:20th-century Indian male singers Category:Karnataka State Film Award winners