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"Rhythm has a universal language"

PHOTO: V. GANESAN

Thanks to Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram, fondly called Vikku, the ghatam, a humble accompanying instrument in cutcheris, is on a roll. He is also the only Carnatic musician to have won a Grammy for the album `Planet Drum' (1991). Vikku began his performing career at a young age. Though he shared the stage with stalwarts such as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Madurai Mani, M.S. Subbulakshmi and Maharajapuram Santhanam, he managed to create his own space during tani avarthanams. His ghatam resonated in the West when he joined Shakti (in the 1970s), the pioneering fusion band formed by guitarist John McLaughlin.

Engineer-management graduate-violinist-vocalist Sriram Parasuram exists in a creative world free of walls. He holds a Masters degree in Western classical violin from the University of Akron, Ohio and a Ph.D in world music from the Wesleyan University, U.S.A. The young musician revels in a range of activities — jugalbandis with wife Anoorada, solo two-in-one shows (Hindustani and Carnatic), fusion experiments, music for films, albums, Karadi Tales (audio books for children) and an abridged audio book of President APJ Abdul Kalam's autobiography "Wings of Fire". Not surprisingly, the Take Two at the Park Sheraton between these two musicians was a harmonious fusion. Chitra Swaminthan listens in.

Sriram: Vikku mama, remember we met recently at the Sathyam theatre to watch "Chandramukhi"? I even saw you making a quick exit halfway through the movie.

Vikku: I couldn't take the loud sound.

Sriram: Screen or stage, nada inbam is a must for you, isn't it?

Vikku: (Laughs) It's good to see multi-faceted youngsters like you making the best use of your artistic freedom. We had it tough. I remember, when I joined Shakti, there was a furore. Some tried to dissuade me by saying I would never be able to return to the classical format. But my father, a mridangam, morsing and gottuvadyam exponent, had total faith in my ability. He told me it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Sriram: Most of us owe a lot to the musical parampara at home. I marvel at my parents' perseverance; they trained their three sons to play various instruments. They sent us to the best of gurus to give us a strong foundation.

Vikku: See how it has paid off! Today, you are able to handle various styles with ease. You can sing, play the violin, mridangam and ghatam.

Sriram: Sangeet means song, instrument and rhythm. You cannot separate one from the other.

Vikku: No two opinions about that. In my latest CD, "The Great Potter", I have set to music shlokas written by my poet-chithappa on the pancha bhootas. Though the sound of the ghatam is central, a lot of melody has been incorporated for a wholesome treat.

Sriram: Don't you think fusion experiments have given performers and thereby their instruments an international identity?

Vikku: It also made us realise our potential. Though being stretched to intolerable limits today, I feel fusion is the bringing together of rare styles.

Sriram: Everybody likes novelty, but it should be done with sincerity of purpose. Shakti was a successful coming together of masters, who wanted to give music-lovers something different. It opened the floodgates of creativity and set a trend. But I feel fusion today has become a convenient slot for those in a hurry to make it big. It has also become more of a fad.

Vikku: From my own experience, I can say that honesty will never go unrewarded. I remember one of M. S. Subbulakshmi's concerts at Shanmukhananda Hall in Bombay. I was there as an accompanying artiste. Minutes before the concert, the electricity went off. But we went ahead. The audience too sat in the dark for three hours, silently absorbing the music. It was a thrilling experience.

Sriram: How nice to have such rasikas! Indians are receptive to new ideas. You have the added advantage because rhythm has a universal language. You can lend it to other styles without compromising on your sampradaya. But with a melodic instrument, there are several limitations.

Vikku: That's how the Grammy winning `Planet Drum' happened. Micky Hart brought together percussionists from seven countries and combined their traditional rhythm to produce a modern sound. And you know what, most of them fell for the beautiful sruti-laya combination of the tabla (Zakir Hussain) and the ghatam.

Sriram: Why, they would have fallen for your crisp white veshti too.

Vikku: It's heartening to know that it's not just foot-tapping rhythm, Gen Y has taken to long tresses (running his hand through his hair), veshti and kurta as well. (ha, ha, ha... )

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