The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : From family gatherings to star concerts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

From family gatherings to star concerts

Special Correspondent

Ranjani Venkatesh

BANGALORE: She is one of the few women mridangam artistes around. Ranjani Venkatesh has been a professional percussionist for over a decade now having started young. "Most of my immediate family are into music, like my mother, grandmother and aunts and you can say I grew up in a musical atmosphere.

My cousin N.R. Ravi and H.S. Suresh were among my early teachers," she says. Initially, it was playing the mridangam at family gatherings and from there it went on to playing at concerts, accompanying vocalists, both young and senior.

"Being a singer myself has helped, I can follow the personal nuances of the vocalist I am accompanying, understand their psyche and approach to music," says Ranjani. Each concert is a different experience for her. She watches the singer, other accompanists and the reaction of the audience.

"If some in the audience look a bit bored, you have to forget techniques for a while and get into more lively improvisation'' she says.

Close interaction

A grade "B" artist of All India Radio, Ms. Venkatesh has interacted closely with other women musicians and played along with some of them. Sukanya Rajagopal, who plays the ghatam, is one of them.

Along with her and other artistes, they have presented taala vadya concerts that have become popular. Among the singers she has accompanied, she has most enjoyed playing for Manasai Prakash, P. Nandita and the Bangalore Brothers.

Complicated talas

"The aadi tala lends itself to most ragas and sometimes more complicated talas are necessary to make the concert successful... again being a vocalist myself helps to gauge the singer's tempo and individual style."

Husband Venkatesh, a software professional, comes from a musical background too and that was how they met.

"He is my best critic and if he is in the audience, I study his reaction too," she says. After every concert they like to analyse what better could have been done on her part.

Mentors and favourites

Like many musicians, Ms. Venkatesh has her favourites among vocalists. Sanjay Subramanyam and T.M. Krishna are among them.

Among mridanga vidwans, Umayalpuram Sivaraman is her "guru's guru" and Sumathi of Hyderabad and Palghat Raghu are those she likes and feels inspired.

Ms. Venkatesh will be in on September 10 and 11 at the invitation of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

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