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PHOTOS: R. Ravindran

STRIKING A CHORD Sikkil Gurucharan

Sikkil Gurucharan’s just back from a series of concerts in the U.S. and he’s jetlagged, although he doesn’t show it. Dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, with the light glinting off his rimless spectacles as he talks about himself, it’s hard to think of this young man as an accomplished musician, let alone a celebrated vocalist.

But that’s exactly what he is: a brilliant talent in the often-too-stuffy world of Carnatic music, who’s just been awarded the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar award by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi in recognition of his achievements.

In a sense, it’s not at all surprising that he’s a musician given his family lineage. He’s the grandson of Sikkil Kunjumani, the flautist and one half of the celebrated Sikkil sisters; his aunt Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar is also a well-known flautist, his mother Mythili Chandrasekaran taught at the Government Music College, Adyar, and his father, V. Chandrasekaran, is a well-known theatre person: art is in his blood.

Gurucharan grew up in an atmosphere where music was all around. As he says in his website, sometime in 1987, when he was five, he was coaxed by the Sikkil sisters to sing a tune. After some cajoling, he sang a popular film number. His grandparents were amazed by his ‘sruthi suddham,’ or tonal perfection; they decided that he must pursue vocal music, though every other member of the family was a flautist.

Charan, as he is affectionately called, learnt the basics of Carnatic music from his mother. In 1990, he was put under the tutelage of Vaigal S. Gnanaskandan, a producer with All India Radio, and a disciple of Dandapani Desigar and the legendary Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Sri Gnanaskandan used to come home to teach the young boy; a practice which still continues.

He was lucky in his choice of school — Vidya Mandir, Mylapore — and college — Vivekananda College, which helped in his flowering as a singer. By the time he finished college in 2002, he had decided on a career in music. It’s not always easy making a living as a musician, so how did he come to the decision? Says Gurucharan, “When I started performing, the market was getting better and I knew I could do it. So, I decided to go into music full time after college.”

However, he also found time to gain a Master’s degree in Financial Management through a part-time programme in Loyola College, in association with Pondicherry University. “A Bachelor’s degree means nothing at all these days,” he points out, grinning.

Gurucharan is no rigid purist when it comes to music. His collaboration with Anil Srinivasan, the pianist, and their two albums Madhirakshi and Maya have been very well received. He’s careful not to call it fusion — contemporary music is what he calls it — but whatever name you want to give it, people have liked the new sound. The percussion doesn’t intrude, the tempo is slower, and the lyrics stand out, he points out. The two are now working on a new production, on Lord Krishna, which should be done by mid-year.

When he’s not on the road or rehearsing, Gurucharan gets back with his friends. “When I get the time, I like to hang out with my friends,” he confesses. He loves cricket (though not the truncated 20-20 version), and is an avid film watcher, of both Hollywood and Indian. He’s a huge fan of the film comedians Goundamani and Senthil (there’s a huge fan club of the two out there, he ventures) and composer Ilaiyaraja. He’s an admirer of Irish singer Enya, and Michael Jackson is a favourite.

How did he get the name Gurucharan? He says a lot of people on his father’s side were named Guru because they were followers of Pudukottai Shantananda Swamigal. He smiles, “I often say that the crowds at my concerts have only come to hear a Punjabi sing Carnatic!”

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