Due recognition
G.S. Paul
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Percussion artiste Asiad Sasi will be felicitated on October 16.
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He has accompanied masters such as Annamanada Achutha Marar and Annamanada Parameswara Marar
Photo: K.K. Najeeb
CHIME OF MUSIC: Asiad Sasi.
Elathalam artiste Asiad Sasi will be honoured by his native village Pookode in Thrissur district on October 16, to commemorate his 30 years as a percussion artiste. The function, organised by Kinoor Anushtana Kalakshetram, will be graced by many of the big names in percussion, including actor Jayaram. It has been pointed out that the melam (percussion ensemble) is so called as it is a confluence of a variety of instruments. Although the role of each is pivotal, some of them enjoyed surrogate status until recently.
Ethereal instrument
Described as Brahma Talam in Sanskrit, the bell-metal discs provide an ethereal dimension to all melams as also to panchavadyam, thayambaka and keli.
The clang of the two produces a prolonged resonant vibration. Sasi was initiated into the world of percussion by his father, Makkoth Narayana Marar, an exponent of the edakka. His stint at Thriprayar Temple as an adiyanthirakkaran was a turning point.
Noted percussionist Kalamandalam Parameswara Marar who was also serving in the temple invited him to join his troupe to play elathalam. That was in 1975.
Soon the percussion maestro Mattannur Sankararankutty spotted the talented Sasi who had taken to elathalam. An invitation to join Mattannur Panchavadyam Sangam came as a god-sent opportunity. Ever since he joined the troupe in 1979, Sasi never had to look back.
He says proudly, "Sankarettan is my guru, friend and patron." Numerous are the novel ensembles conceived and staged by Sankarankutty for which Sasi has played the role of Pramaanam (helmsman) of the elathalam section. He has also had the privilege of accompanying many of the masters of yore like Annamanada Achutha Marar, Annamanada Parameswara Marar and Pallavur Appu Marar. He remembers the compliment from Appu Marar after a performance, "You are the best in elathalam." It was a realisation of his ambition when he was invited to be the head in the Thrissur Pooram this year.
Asked about the prefix to his name (Asiad), he says, "I was christened so by my fans after my performance in Delhi in 1982 in connection with the Asian games hosted by our country. Is it not a great honour for an artiste like me to be known after that international sports event?"
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