In the International scene, I have played with Planet Drum by
Mickey Hart and we got Grammy Award for the same. I got the
award to my place here in India as I was not able to go. It was a
melody group with artists from seven different countries.
We did a tour for the same through different costs of America.
I would like to quote an incident here. When we reached the
airport, I was caught and asked what the Ghatam was. I tried
to explain in different ways but they did not understand. So I
decided to play a small tune and they were extremely happy
and thrilled to see how much sound a mere pot can make.
Usually, during all my concerts I wear a traditional south
Indian attire called Panchakajam. I was a bit scared
considering I’m in a far away land and hence I prayed to the
lord and left it to him. The head of the band made it clear to
everyone that each person can wear the traditional and popular
outfit from their country and also told others that nobody must
wear their shoes and come next to me as a token of respect to
what I was wearing. The concert was fun and a grand success.
Apart from Music, what are your interests?
For me, music is everything! Within music itself, I
come up with different concepts. Now I’m working
on something new like playing slokams. By
doing this, if I have the thalam ready, I can
single handedly doing a entire concert
with just a couple of accompaniments.
My grandson, Swaminathan will say the
slokam and I will play it.
Your advice to the future percussionists
Music is a very blessed talent which
not everyone would get easily.
There were such great musicians
like Mandolin Srinivasan, MS
Subbulakshmi and others, who
though are no longer present,
their music is remembered
and listened to. It will never
be wiped out! For instance,
lord Mahalakshmi will come
and go away whereas lord
Saraswathi won’t come
easily but once she has
come, will never leave
you. So if you have the
talent, you must make
the best use of it and
never let it go! You need
to have an aim and work
hard towards giving it
your best. Only failures
make you go up!
What are your future projects?
Currently, I am working on the
Bhajan Namasankeerthanam in
Ghattam. I am also working on
a project with Salem Ravi where
he tells the story of Kanchipuram
mahaan’s Mahimai and I will play the
slokam. Having played everything else,
including fusion and western, I want to
now play something spiritual.
14
The
Score Magazine
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