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The right beats
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Drummer Sivamani will soon cut an album with Zakir Hussain
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INSPIRED BY NATURE Sivamani PHOTO: K. MURALI
Always tuned to the right beat, percussionist A. Sivamani is currently working on Galli Galli Sim Sim, an upcoming educational series on Pogo and Cartoon Network. Meant for kids aged between two and eight, the series is modelled on Sesame Street, the popular series for preschoolers produced by Sesame Workshop in association with Turner Broadcasting.
Here the twist in the tale is Sivamani was invited by Aanchoo, Boombah, Chamki and Googly, the Muppet residents of Galli Galli Sim Sim at Jugaadu Ka Karkhana. Sivamani jams with Googly using plastic cans for drums amidst the junk in the factory.
Ask him how he controls plastic cans, and Sivamani says it's all about rhythm. "Once you have got the rhythm, everything follows. I used spoons recently in Chennai and once when I was told to play impromptu I used the utensils from the hotel's kitchen," smiles the Chennai resident.
With no formal training, Sivamani says he learns from Nature.
"It's all about observation and application. You can learn from concerts, you can learn from the way rain drops on rooftops. At times even traffic has music to it."
Percussion, particularly drumming, is not perceived as a pure classical form. Sivamani, having played with all the musical stalwarts, including Ilaiyaraja and A.R. Rahman, agrees but says people like Zakir Hussain have been able to bring it to centre stage.
"I was playing in the background in films for decades when Zakir bhai gave me an opportunity. Now drumming is part of world music and with youngsters getting attracted to fusion, it's the best way to take classical music to the new generation."
He continues to play in movies, the latest being Rang De Basanti.
"I have played in so many films that I forget the names but it's the stage performance that keeps me excited. Now I am looking forward to my album with Zakir Bhai," he says.
ANUJ KUMAR
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