`Award underlines responsibility'
M. BALAGANESSIN
|
Valayapatti Subramaniam dedicates his `Padma Sri' to a galaxy of thavil artistes who had inspired him.
|
RECOGNITION: Valayapatti A. R. Subramaniam receiving the award from President Abdul Kalam.
The Padma Sri award conferred on him recently is yet another feather in his cap. It was in recognition of his contribution to the field of percussion, the thavil in particular. He has been synonymous with the instrument for the past six decades. Valayapatti A. R. Subramaniam attributes his latest honour to a galaxy of thavil artistes who inspired him to realise the nuances of laya and tala.
"It is the temple festivals in Jaffna in Sri Lanka during 1959-60 that exposed me to eminent thavil artistes — Tiruvizhandur Ramadas Pillai, Vadapadhimangalam Dakshinamurthy Pillai, Yazhpanam Dakshinamurthy, Yazhpanam Chinnaraja, Yazhpanam Ganesapillai. The list is just illustrative and not exhaustive. I owe all my honour to them," Valayapatti Subramaniam says.
"A temple has many shrines, and each has a significance for the devotees. Likewise, laya accounts for a series of talas with each having a specific impact on listeners," he observed, explaining how the Jaffna festivals created an urge in him to understand this `mental, mechanical and mathematical exercise.'
Pointing out that these festivals enabled him to nurture his talents, he recollected how he could exhibit his skill in thani avartanam for two-and-a-half hours and three-and-a-quarter hours at the festivals held in Tirupattur and Vayalur respectively. He is happy to note that a large number of boys and girls are being admitted to the nagaswaram and thavil courses being offered by the Government music schools in the districts. "The award has not just brought me laurels but has underlined my responsibility to popularise thavil among the future generations," he said. He also expressed his willingness to deliver special lecture-cum-demonstration sessions on thavil at these schools.
The Hindu and Religious and Charitable Endowment Board and the Education Department have a crucial role to play, in `reviving and protecting' the classical music in our State, he added.
According to him, the HR and CE Board should restore Carnatic concerts and Bharatanayatam at temple festivals. The Education Department must re-introduce music at least as an optional subject in schools, he said, adding that the practice was in vogue until three decades ago.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
