French Tunisian Heikel Ben Mlouka, a Rudraveena player, was recently presented the 11th Pandit Jasraj-Rotary Club of Hyderabad Award for cross cultural understanding, from Padma Vibhushan awardee Pandit Jasraj in Hyderabad.
The Rudraveena has declined in popularity, partly due to the introduction of the Surbahar in the early 19th century, which allowed Sitar players to present the Aalap sections of slow Dhrupad-style ragas more easily. Earlier that evening , Heikel Ben gave a small Hindustani classical performance with two compositions, including one in Dhrupad, which had a western throw.
The French Tunisian artistee had started learning rhythm after he turned 10-years- old and over the next seven years, learnt and practised different types of percussion instruments beginning from Drumkit to the Arabic Darbuka, the African Djembe, Cajon, Congas, Beat boxing and even adding words to it, making it rhythmic poetry, popularly called the Rap in the West.
Heikel Ben said that after listening to various senior Indian artistes, he felt that his calling was in Indian music. “The cosmic vibrations sounded as perfect and natural music,” said the young artiste. Initially, he acquired a sitar and came to India to study classical music. “I was very much attracted by the singing of Ustad Zia Fariuddin Dagar and Rudraveena rendition of Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. But, I chose to learn from their disciples Gundecha brothers in Bhopal,” he recalled. On the advice of Gundecha brothers, “I learnt to play Rudraveena and they sent me to Pandit Rajshekar Vyas in Udaipur for training. My soul was touched at the deepest level by the sound of the Veena and I could not stop playing it.” In just over a year of learning the Rudraveena, the talented musician has performed in various Dhrupad festivals in and outside India.
Heikel Ben has also personally built a Rudraveena from bamboo, which he playsplay.
“I have made the instrument lighter, stronger, better sounding, easier to carry and most importantly affordable,” says the artiste.
