Chekkera Pancham Bopanna

Chekkera  Pancham  Bopanna was born on 1 February 1981. He was brought up in Hudikeri, Kodagu and presently residing in Mysore. He is a classical singer and grandson of one of the most prominent Kodava classical singer Late Chekkera Appaiah who was also known as “Coorg Star”.

Most of his songs are on youtube for ready referance

Family

Father

Chekkera Thyagaraj

Mother

Chekkera Sushila

Wife

Chekkera (Ballyamanda) Navya Kusuma

Children

Chirag Chinnappa

Bihag Bopaiah

 

Education

Completed his SSLC from Janata High School Hudikeri, did his PUC in Srimangala. Later he went to Gadag, Pandit Panchakshari Gavai Music College to do his Bachelor’s in Music. He completed his Master’s in Hindustani classical music from Karnataka University Dharwad in the year 2011.

Career

Although he was from a family of Musicians he was not very keen on learning music during his younger days. He was inspired by Ustad Mehdi Hassan, Gulam Ali, Hariharan and Ustad Rashid Khan to learn Music. He developed an interest in music at the age of 25 and went to Gadag to pursue his career in Music. His Father and Late Pandit Sri Krishna Hanagal were his Gurus.

Achievements

• He is a trained Classical, Ghazal, Devotional, Hindi, Kannada (Film songs) & Kodava songs
• He converted the old Song “Nipple Alpala Bollavva” into a Dj Mix for the 1st time in the history of Kodava songs with Dj Kalypso(Machimanda Muthanna)which was a  super hit song in Kodagu and many other places. The song was written by “Haradasa Appaneravanda Appachha Kavi” composed by Father Chekkera Thyagaraj Appaiah which was more than 100 yrs for his play “Naal Nataka”.
• He made his debut as a singer in Belgaum Kodava Association where most of the audience were Army officers.
• He performed at a classical concert in Ramakrishna Ashrama Ponnampt,Kodagu
• He performed at an Orchestra “Kodava Knights Symphony”
• He performed in many parts of Coorg and other places like Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Kasaragod through Kodava sahitya Academy, Kannada & cultural dept.
• He performs solo for various cultural programs and public events.
• He performed for several schools and college annual functions, cultural and sports club day functions etc. in Kodagu and many other places.
• He sings devotional songs for Theertodbhava in Talacavery and for Dusshera etc.
• He has many Kodava songs recorded for cassettes and CDs.
• Performed at AIR FM Madikeri and also performs for local TV channels in Kodagu
• He was a judge for many singing competitions in Kodagu and Bangalore Kodava Samaj.
• Usually sings Kodava songs which relate and describes beauty, importance, culture, history and bravery of Kodavas.

He has been actively performing across Kodagu and has been invited by many institutes as a Chief Guest.  He is regarded as one of the most successful singers in Kodagu.  All his popular songs are available on YouTube and in other social media.