Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Happy making devotionals

An audio album by Chinmaya Vidyalaya music teacher, Tapovan Narayanan is awaiting a global release

A MUSICAL CALL Devotionals are Tapovan Narayanan's forte PHOTO: VIPINCHANDRAN

Tapovan Narayanan, the music teacher of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Tripunithura, is thrilled. The album `Hari Bol' which has devotionals penned by him, is awaiting an international release.

"The album is produced by a group called Friends of Lord Krishna (Folk), which actually functions under the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon)," says Tapovan. It is one among its projects to raise funds for its Rs.10-crore Guruvayur Project. The Bhaktivedanta Cultural Complex will have state-of-the-art facilities like a multimedia theatre, auditorium and performing arts theatre, museum, guest rooms, and an open-air theatre, Gita Academy. The nine songs in this album, penned by Ramesan Nair, Chowallur Krishnankutty and P.C.Aravindan are rendered by P. Jayachandran, Madhu Balakrishnan, Unni Menon, Sujatha and one by Narayanan. "We have used some rare instruments like Ghadashinkari, Dhun, Brahmatalam, Rooncha, Khol, Dhamaga etc. And some of the renowned musicians like Narasimhan (violinist), Naveen (flute), Devi (veena) much sought after for recordings have played for this album. The result has been stunning and I'm sure it will be welcomed by Malayalis throughout the world."

Shot in the arm

This album is a shot in the arm for the unassuming musician who cut his musical teeth quite early in life. "Music occupied a very important part of our life. My grandfather was Swami Tapovan, the guru of Swami Chinmayanada and it is his name that I have now adopted for my musical ventures," says Narayanan, who hails from Kuzhalmannam, near Palakkad.

"It was my association with the eminent violinist L. Vaidyanathan at the Madras Central College that was the turning point in my life. He is not just a brilliant violinist, busy music director but also a wonderful teacher. His vocal music lessons, his tips on composing and willingness to help have stood me in good stead."

Narayanan even sung a few lines in films like `Daivathinte Vikrithikal' and a Tamil film `Dasaratham,' the music for which was composed by Vaidyanathan.

His first independent work was `Sree Vaani,' which, despite fledgling failings gave ample evidence of Narayanan's musical acumen. "I feel it was only after my second work, one on `Navagraha Stotrams,' that I really found the guts to take the plunge. Sung by Madhu Balakrishnan, Vandana and myself it won appreciation from stalwarts like Dakshinamurthy ."

His biggest hit so far was `Harivandanam.' "More then 5,000 copies of this album must have been sold in our village itself. Even today it is played almost every day in many houses and the temple there."

His stint as a music teacher at Chinmaya has been fulfilling. "We have been consistent winners at the Vande Mataram contest held every year by the Ramakrishna Mission. . Then we won the jugalbandi competition for CBSE schools this year in which 40 schools participated. Apart from all this we have produced so many musicals for our school functions. ," winds off Narayanan.

K. PRADEEP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail