Parvathy A.B. first held a chenda as a Class VII student at Government Girls High School. Her teacher asked the class if anyone was interested in chenda classes and Parvathy was among the first to join as she always loved its sound. At the start, the class was full of enthusiastic participants, but over time, the numbers dwindled as playing the chenda was physically trying. But Parvathy persevered. She continues to this day, as a Class XI student who is often the only girl at chenda melams across Kochi’s temples.
Her first achievement came at the Revenue District-level cultural competitions where her team of girls from school was placed first. They qualified for the sub-District level event in Kolenchery and were determined to win there too. “We practised every day after school and from morning to evening through the vacations. After listening to us, everyone was certain we would come first but we didn’t,” says Parvathy. The loss was demoralising but Parvathy continues learning to play, now under the tutelage of A. Shine at the Ernakulam Shiva Kshetram. “After many of my friends stopped learning, I wanted someone to teach me outside school. But I didn’t know whether Shine sir would take me as a student because I would be his only female student. I get to practice on the chenda only in his class. Otherwise, at home I use a stone since I cannot afford a chenda,” says Parvathy.
The highlight of Parvathy’s musicianship so far has been playing with maestro Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and his 70-strong troupe for an hour-long concert at the Ernakulam Shiva Temple. “We happened to see him just the previous day and on a whim, my mother asked him if I could join him. I never thought he would agree!” says Parvathy. She practised with the ensemble on the morning of the concert and played flawlessly in the front row at performance time. Parvathy has also played for two continuous hours at the Valanjambalam Devi temple and most recently at the Elamkulam Vinayaka Temple. “It is not easy playing continuously for long hours. The chenda’s strap cuts into my shoulder and I require a lot of energy to keep up, but at melams, the excitement around me and my enthusiasm give me strength,” she says. She has been gifted many cash prizes after these performances.
Besides playing the chenda, Parvathy is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, a singer and an artist. Of her future, she says, “I want to train at Kalamandalam and become a professional musician and dancer. By god’s grace, I hope that happens!”
