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Instrumental in popularising flute
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``To protect the Carnatic music, young talents should be given adequate publicity. More government support would have a better impact.''
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He was born into a family of musicians, hailing from Thiruvarur in Thanjavur district.
N. Ramani started his career in a humble way and has reached a pinnacle in the Carnatic music through his scintillating performances.
Having given many concerts in the U.S., the Middle Eastern countries, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, he has scores of sincere disciples all over the world.
This instrumentalist-turned-guru has also established a School of Flute in Kerala. The name and fame has not changed this man of simplicity. Dr. Ramani shares his experiences with K. Raju.
"A BEE stung a bamboo, the flute was born," thus said Kalidasa, Bard immortal.
Expression of music through instrument or voice differs from culture to culture. Similarly, the quality of music varies from bamboo to bamboo, and from player to player, depending upon his handling of the instrument. ``We have a lot of thalams, rhythm and compositions. While Westerners use metallic flutes, Indians prefer bamboo ones. The Westerners are keen on learning and researching on Carnatic music and on classical instruments,'' says Dr. Ramani, a world-renowned flutist.
He learnt music through the guru-sishya system. T.R. Mahalingam was his uncle and guru. "There were not many facilities in those days. We devoted all our time to music. Concerts at marriages or temple festivals — only sources of listening to music — were great treasures. ``Learn while you listen'' was the mantra. One need tremendous memory power to remember ragas and style.''
Though his music was heard all over the world through television and radio, he struggled to listen to a concert in radio during his young days. " There was no radio in our street. Nearby, a person had a radio set. The `Radio Ceylon' was popular, and the people loved to listen to it. We would go to his home to listen to the Carnatic music programmes. Opportunities were limited to classical singers. We walked many miles to attend music concerts."
Today's disciples, he says, have a lot of opportunities and exposure. They need not spend years in guru's house. They could learn within months what it took many years in those days. ``To protect the Carnatic music, young talents should be given adequate publicity. More government support would have a better impact. Woman instrumentalists have less exposure, compared to men. To generate more women players, more support is needed. Many women do not take to instrumental music,'' he says.
Despite the influence of electronic instruments, flute and violin have retained their dominant position even in the tinsel world. In 1960s, Tamil films were greatly influenced by the Carnatic music. ``Four decades ago, encouragement in south India was excellent, as a lot of people attended concerts. Now it is coming down. In my opinion, organisers and musicians should cooperate with each other, to preserve Carnatic music.''
``Even college students used to attend the concerts of G.N. Balasubramanian. Now, students are distracted by television shows. Parents prefer sports to music for their wards, as it is more remunerative.'' Though a bit conservative, Dr. Ramani has always embraced innovative ideas: he has participated in Jugalbandhi programmes and played with Western flutes too. "Gamakas are different and our ragas are entirely different from theirs. Discipline, devotion, and bakthi are the strength of our music". To maintain health and keep himself fit, he has been observing `mouna viratham' on every Thursday for the past eight years.
At a concert in France, only the organisers knew English. ``I explained ragas in English. I concluded the concert, playing `mangalam.' But the audience kept quiet. When the mridanga vidwan started packing his instrument, the audience was sitting silently. When I asked the organisers to announce the end of the concert, he informed me that according to the Western tradition, the singer had to leave the hall and come back to dais again to mark the end of the programme. But he permitted me to conclude the concert in Indian style. I stood up with folded hands,'' he says with a lot of amusement.
Popularising flute is his goal. Dr. Ramani has been concentrating more on teaching now. Having students all over the world, he has been organising seminars once in six months, and visiting the U.S. frequently, to guide his disciples. Experienced teachers are not available, he regrets. "Dedication and constant practice alone make one perfect in his art," is his message for his students.
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
|
