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Tuned in to music

Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

Global notes Prasanna

Call him a virtuoso musician, one of those rare breeds who plays Carnatic music on the electric guitar with elan. He is also a jazz musician, blessed with the formidable gift of brewing a brilliant concoction of classical and peppy, heady and magical music. Meet acclaimed electric guitarist and composer, Prasanna, now on a new high as a team member of the Oscar-winning Best Short Documentary Smile Pinki.

Prasanna narrates his experience of working in the film. “I met the director, Megan Mylan, through a common friend just five days ahead of the film going for the final round of sound mixing. At first, Megan wasn’t sure of having an original musical score and was contemplating using something from albums of Indian artistes. After much brainstorming, we decided that the film should have an original music score as it would do justice to the film and the cause; this despite not having much time,” recalls a visibly happy Prasanna.

It took a day for him to receive the DVD of the film, watch it and get briefed, half-a-day for composing and another half-a-day for correction and another day for recording. “In just three days, I completed the music for the film,” beams the ingenious musician.

Born in Coimbatore and raised in Chennai, Prasanna took to guitar at the age of 10 and went on to learn Carnatic music. A graduate in naval architecture from IIT Chennai, he quit his job in a software firm to join the Berkeley College of Music, U.S. He is at his creative best while deciding the titles for his albums and tracks — Electric Ganesha Land, Indra’s Necklace, Potbelly blues, Iguana on a funky trail and more.

This master of strings has jammed with renowned musicians across the globe, including Joe Lovano, Larry Coryell, Anthony Jackson, Omar Hakim and Trilok Gurtu.

In India, Prasanna has teamed with A.R. Rahman, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Ilaiyaraaja, L. Subramaniam and Umayalpuram Sivaraman.

Prasanna is “drawn to anybody who makes music honestly. People who produce music in a heartfelt and natural way, leave a legacy behind. But those who just try to impress, fail,” he says.

SUKANYA CHELLAPPA

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