A true disciple
SARASWATHI NAGARAJAN
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Recipient of the Music Academy’s TTK Award, Palai Ramachandran attributes his success to guru Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.
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PHOTO: S. Ramesh Kurup
In HIS guru’s footsteps: Palai C.K. Ramachandran
“In 1965, I remember accompanying my guru Semmangudi at a concert at the residence of T.T. Krishnamachari, the then Minister of Finance. Later, I was introduced to that great statesman, entrepreneur and patron of arts. Never ever did I dream that one day I would receive the award (the TTK Award for Excellence) instituted in his name. That too in the year when my guru’s centenary is being observed. I owe it to my guru,” says an overwhelmed Palai C.K. Ramachandran.
Singing paeans to his guru, the vocalist attributes his music, career and achievements to the 40 years he travelled in his guru’s footsteps as his backing vocalist. For Ramachandran, each concert and each class is an attempt to further the Semmangudi bani.
He points that though Semmangudi never travelled abroad, his reputation and his music won him fans all over the world. A fact that Ramachandran realised during his concerts in the U.S., U.K. and Africa.
Indeed, it was his guru Semmangudi who took him on an eventful journey to Chennai and helped Ramachandran become the renowned globetrotting Carnatic vocalist Palai C.K. Ramachandran. A journey that began when the youngster was 15.
The beginning
Little did the teenager from Palai realise that he had embarked on a singular musical trip when he travelled from Edamattam village in Kottayam to Thiruvananthapuram to seek admission at the Swati Thirunal Music Academy.
“It was in 1959-60 when Semmangudi was principal of the Academy. He asked me to sing a varnam and a kirtanam. I had been learning music from the age of eight from Kumarakom Bhaskara Menon. He was so impressed that I was told to join the second year straightway. So, I was able to complete Ganabhushan in three years’ time,” recalls Ramachandran.
Eventually, while a student of Ganapraveena, Ramachandran was appointed assistant professor at his alma mater. “Semmangudi had retired and the new principal was none other than G.N. Balasubramaniam. One of his first jobs as principal was to conduct interview for new faculty members.”
However, before Ramachandran could settle in his new job, two of his former teachers, Mavelikara Prabhakara Varma and Chalakudy Narayana Swamy, told him to meet Semmangudi who was all set to return to Chennai.
“I remember it so vividly. He asked me in Tamil if I could accompany him to Chennai, stay with him and learn in the gurukulavasam tradition,” recalls Ramachandran. In 1963, he travelled to Chennai with his parents’ blessings and stayed with Semmangudi for 10 years.
Learning by observation
“I used to heat water for his bath, launder his clothes, make his bed… Then would come lessons in music… I saw him teach, discuss and live music. I imbibed so much by just observing him. In 1967, I gave my first concert at Krishna Gana Sabha.”
Even after returning to Kerala in 1973, Ramachandran made it a point to be in Chennai every Saturday to accompany his guru during his concert on Sundays. A practice he continued till Semmangudi’s demise in 2003.
Last year, this faithful disciple released his book titled ‘Sadguru Sri Semmangudiswamy’ (Poorna Publications, Rs. 150). Subject? Reminiscences of his guru and mentor, of course. Among his proud possessions is a recording of Semmangudi teaching him a kriti. A teacher for three decades, Ramachandran is sad that the dedication found in students of those days is lacking now. “Also it is a pity that Carnatic musicians, usually newcomers, who have sung a song or two in films are rated higher than those who have dedicated their lives to Carnatic music. This bias is reflected in their remuneration too,” he points out. A former employee of AIR, Kozhikode, Ramachandran, an ‘A top’ artiste, says, “During my 28 years at AIR, I used to give lessons in Carnatic music on the radio. Even now, people tell me that those lessons initiated them into music.”
He has several awards to his credit, the Maharajapuram Santhanam Award, M.D. Ramanathan Award and the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi award, to name a few. “But I still consider myself a student of music and my work is to continue the legacy of my guru,” concludes Ramachandran.
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