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`I like to watch action films'

Their relationship is more than that of a guru and a sishya. The doyen of Carnatic music Dr M Balamuralikrishna and his disciple Prince Rama Varma shared the dais singing an exquisite Thillana of the former, in Pondicherry recently. The Guru enjoyed every bit of his disciple's performance. Later, the musicians seemed only too happy to do the Take Two, in which they spoke about their personal and professional rapport.

Deepa H Ramakrishnan recorded the conversation.

Balamuralikrishna: Though we have known each other for over seven years, we have not really had the time to sit and talk.

Rama Varma: Very true. It's always been only music and more music, whenever we meet. Though I joined your classes to learn just a few compositions, from the first session, I yearned to learn more from you. When people listen to me singing, they see a lot of your influence in it. I don't consciously do it.

Balamuralikrishna: That means, you have completely taken to my style.

Rama Varma: When you teach, do you just tell the students about the sahitya, swara, raga and tala; or even the style they should follow?

Balamuralikrishna: There is no specific way of teaching. It varies with each student and his/her ability to grasp. Each student has a different purpose for learning. Some think they will get a chance to perform if they learn from a senior musician. Some even ask me to recommend them to sabhas. But I don't. I firmly believe that opportunities should come on their own. But rarely do we get students who are onlyinterested in learning and expect nothing else. One should be passionate about the art to reach heights.

Rama Varma: So, what kind of a student am I? (Smiles)

Balamuralikrishna: How can I say that in your presence? (Smiles looking at him) Frankly, you are more than a student for me. I want to pass on my knowledge in music to you. In fact, I want you to learn more than what I know.

Rama Varma: Oh, that's impossible! I have still not learnt even a fraction of what you know. There is so much to learn from you, not just in music, but about life too. I remember, once a review criticised CDs with your renditions of Purandara Dasa compositions. I was upset and wondered how anybody could write that about such an extraordinary compilation. However, you were unruffled.

Balamuralikrishna: I like to take things easy. I don't constantly think about music. I never plan concerts, practice or even hum. When I go up on the stage, music sings through me. My family members attend my concerts because they do not hear me sing at home. I have entrusted you with the mission of teaching my style of singing to many, especially in foreign countries. I have heard some of your foreign students sing my compositions and was surprised. They sound better than many Indian students. I wanted to be known more as a composer than a musician. You are now making this happen by popularising my compositions.

Rama Varma: I strongly feel many people who say bad things about you have not met you. They form an impression from what others say. They know you have created ragas and have an innovative mind. I am sure when they meet you even for five minutes they will know the real Balamuralikrishna, who's modest and soft spoken. How was your relationship with your guru, Paruppalli Ramakrishna Pantulu Gaaru?

Balamuralikrishna: He would take care of me. He focussed only on teaching me and never on performances. He never cared about popularity and wealth. However, I am not like that. I perform and give a tough time to my listeners. They think this fellow is not good. He does not follow tradition. I give them food for talk and thought.

Rama Varma: I wonder how as a 14-year-old, you composed songs in the 72 Melakartha ragas. Has your guru listened to your compositions? You have composed many songs on your guru, haven't you?

Balamuralikrishna: Yes, I have. I have also sung them in front of him. I never wanted to compose, it was my guru's spiritual guide Vimalananda Bharathi Swamigal, who made me think of writing. When I was 14, during his chaturmasya vratha he called me and said that I should write my own songs to become popular like the saint composer Tyagaraja. I said I don't know Telugu or the lakshana of poetry. Then a thought came to my mind. There are two systems of 72 Melakarthas and I thought I could bring out their swaroopas. So within a year, I composed songs in each. After that I never wanted to compose but sometimes songs just come to my mind and I start singing. That is how I make new ragas too.

Rama Varma: Things seemed to have happened easily for you.

Balamuralikrishna: I am a lucky fellow. I never bother for anything in life and never aspired for anything. I never thought I would become a popular musician or a guru. At this age I am able to do so many things because I have a person like Saraswathi managing my affairs.

Rama Varma: You play so many instruments including the viola, mridangam and kanjeera, speak and write in Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and English. How did you find the time to learn all these?

Balamuralikrishna: Never ask that question to me — where I learnt something. I never learnt anything, not even Telugu. It all just happened because of my family. My mother used to give performances in those days on the veena. It seems she used to play the veena when I was in her womb and the doctor advised her against it. But she would say that she is teaching her child. She died when I just 16 days old. My father was heart broken and stopped giving concerts.

Rama Varma: What are your other interests?

Balamuralikrishna: I watch action movies. It's thrilling to see a lean man beat up the villain. (laughs) I also like playing in casinos. It's not about making or losing money. It's an art.

Photo: T. Singaravelou

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