Pot-pourri
Renowned classical musician Ghatam
Giridhar Udupa talks all about his
journey with the humble pot.
Synonymous with the ghatam, world-
renowned percussionist Giridhar Udupa
is one the most loved names in the music
industry. After being in the industry for over
three decades, collaborating with eminent
artists across the globe, having toured close
to fifty countries, and receiving numerous
awards and recognitions, Udupa today
stands as a true global icon, a pioneer of
Carnatic classical music, and one of the most
prominent names in the industry.
36
The
Score Magazine
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Pihoto Courtesy : Prithvi Krishna
His journey started at the age of 4, under his father
Vid. Ullur Nagendra Udupa and later under Vid.
Sukanya Ramgopal and Vid. V Suresh. He has
since then continued to practice and teach the
Vikku baani of ghatam playing alongside adapting
nuances from all schools of music. Primarily
a Carnatic musician, Udupa has extensively
widened the boundaries of his repertoire owing the
diversity of his collaborations. Besides his long list
of being an accompanist to most of the big names in
the Classical circuit, Udupa is also part of his own
Carnatic-fusion band “Layatharanga”, Flamenco
band “Indialucia”, Carnatic-Jazz cross over band
“Saagara”, and Celtic band “Bamboo and Clay”.
What accentuates his versatility as a percussionist
is his ability to not only accompany orthodox
classical concerts but also be able to fluently adapt
himself to contemporary and world genres of
music. Unlike any usual ghatam artist, Udupa has
accompanied various Hindustani artists on the
ghatam besides accompanying a host of prominent
Carnatic artists. His repertoire as an artist is
diverse and intriguing!
Speaking of ghatam and how he stumbled upon
it, “ghatam means ‘pot’ in Sanskrit. Having found
enough evidence and references to a “distinct
sound emanating from the pot” in various ancient
texts, the ghatam is an ancient instrument just like
its brothers the mridangam, khanjira, morsing,
etc. I started my journey as a percussionist playing
the mridangam and later took to the ghatam,”
he said. What is essentially a confluence of the
five elements of nature - earth (prithvi), water