Y oung Carnatic vocalist N.J. Nandini does not remember a day when there was no music in her house. This young talent has been groomed by dedicated teachers and supported by a music-loving family. The 20-year-old vocalist is already creating waves in the highly competitive world of Carnatic music. A B-grade artist of All India Radio, Nandini, a rank holder from her school during her Plus Two, says she wants to make a mark as a Carnatic vocalist. She has already given numerous concerts all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sung in the hallowed precincts of the Music Academy and the Shanmughananda Hall in Mumbai. A winner of reality shows in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Nandini's first CD, ‘Keshadi Padam,' will be released soon. Her blog declares her as a ‘A Carnatic musician who believes today's innovation is tomorrow's tradition...'
She writes in her blog: The day I entered the TTK Auditorium, Music Academy for the first time is still etched in my memory...' Excerpts from a chat with Nandini who was all set to go to Palakkad for a concert.
Music in the family
My mother, Jayanthi, is a huge fan of Carnatic music. I think the love for music was instilled in me long before I was born. My mother tries to ensure that she does not miss a single concert in Thiruvananthapuram. I am told that when she was expecting me, she had gone for a concert of M.S. Gopalakrishnan Sir's. He played a Thodi for more than an hour. As my mother felt ill she had to leave in the middle of the recital. However, by a strange coincidence, Thodi is my favourite raga. My father, Neelakantan, is also a discerning listener of Carnatic music. Right from the time we were children, my elder brother, Nandagopal, and I were regular concert-goers. Most of the organisers knew us and so they used to let us get away with a lot of liberties.
I have benefitted a lot from all those concerts I have listened to. It is true that ‘kelvi njanam' is more important than only theoretical lessons. Moreover, since then we have been collecting the autographs of Carnatic greats and I feel blessed to have the autographs of legends like Semmangudi and D.K. Pattammal.
Lessons in music
My formal lessons began at the age of four when I started learning the basics from S. Padmanabhan. After that it was Bhagyalakshmi teacher who groomed the singer in me for more than 12 years. I am now undergoing advanced training from Parassala Ponnammal teacher and Kumarakerala Varma Sir. My father's uncle, the late maestro Vechoor Hariharasubramania Iyer, was Ponnammal teacher's colleague. So, I feel blessed to have her as my teacher. I have gained a great deal of experience while accompanying her on the tanpura during her concerts. I have learnt a lot of thillanas from M.N. Moorthy Sir.
At home, I practise with my brother, an accomplished mridangam artiste. Singing to the accompaniment of the mridangam is helpful in enhancing a vocalist's skills.
Performances and competitions
I don't remember an arangetram as such. I believe my first public performance was at the age of six, at a small Krishan temple in my mother's village in Nagercoil. But my first major concert was at the Theerthapadamandapam in Thiruvananthapuram when I rendered a ragam, talam, pallavi in chathur ragamalika. But it was winning ‘Raga Ratnam Yuva,' a reality show on Amrita TV that is dedicated to Carnatic music, which gave me a boost. That was in 2009. In 2011, I was the first runner-up of a Carnatic music competition that was telecast on Jaya TV. On March 3, I was again chosen as the first runner-up in the same competition conducted by Jaya TV this year. It was quite thrilling to receive the prize from Dr. Balamuralikrishna.
These reality shows have helped me hone my skills. Eminent musicians judge these shows and their advice and tips are of immense help to any budding musician. For instance, I was told to practise full-throated singing and work more on my brighas. I have been working on both.
A career in music
I want to be known as a Carnatic vocalist. But if I get a chance to sing for films, I will grab the offer. My mother, my greatest support, wants me to do a doctorate in music. She is a super achiever who does every thing from tailoring my clothes for my concerts to cooking to driving. I would not have gone anywhere without her constant encouragement and advice. I might have inherited the musical gene from my father's side of the family but that innate talent was encouraged and honed by my mother. Since my stages shows have increased, I find it difficult to attend college. So I have registered myself as a private candidate of B.Com from the Kerala University.
Discerning audiences
It is not true that one has to be in Chennai to be a successful Carnatic musician. There are discerning audiences in Kerala, especially in certain places like Palakkad, Thrissur, Tripunithura, Thiruvananthpuram, and so on where the listeners are veterans of classical music. They can compare, analyse and critically review any concert. That is of great benefit to a budding singer.
