The multitude cheered in anticipation as drummer Anandan Sivamani came on stage. The performance began with him playing the damru and blowing into the conch. It was the start of a concert where the maestro went on to create unbelievable sounds with instruments that ranged from the traditional kanjira and udukkai to a suitcase and a water bottle!
For 40 minutes, the air filled with the resonating sounds of the gong, tabla, cymbals and drums. It was an out-of-the-world musical experience.
Sivamani performed at the Velammal Matriculation School, Viraganur, as part of the school function. He told the audience, “The first beat I knew was the heartbeat of my mother. There’s beat in all elements of nature. One only has to be a keen listener to be able to reproduce those beats and compose a song.” He shared memories of his childhood days in Chennai where he used to practise by the beach. “I used to blindfold myself and play the drums keeping time with the waves,” he recalled. “The fishermen kids would come up to me and ask what I was doing. And I used to let them play the drums and teach them the beats.” “Five years ago, when I was judging a TV music talent show, I ran into one of those kids whom I taught. I was elated to see him perform on stage.”
Sivamani felicitated students who gave solo performances on the mridangam, drum and guitar. One thousand one hundred students put up a spectacular musical where they sang both English and Tamil songs in chorus. Dressed in pink and silver outfits, the students moved and sang in unison. The concert was also aimed at entering the Limca Book of Records. Three music instructors from Chennai had trained the students. Vetrivel of class IV, who has been taking drumming classes for two years, performed three songs on the drum kit and won a chance to accompany Sivamani on the stage briefly.
Sivamani is currently working on the second part of his album ‘ Mahaleela ’, which is titled ‘Tu Hi Tu’. He is also debuting as a music director in the upcoming Tamil film Arima Nambi .
