“I used to drum on the vessels in the kitchen,” smiles Sachin Prakash. It’s his answer to the question, “why mridangam”. Growing up in a house where melody reigned (his mother Rajeshwari Prakash is a vocalist), he chose to pursue percussion. At the age of five, Sachin began learning mridangam from Anandram Bhat and Kanchana Murthy in his hometown, Shivamogga.
“Once I understood the basics and realised my passion for the instrument, I wanted to train under Guru Karaikudi Mani Sir as I was intrigued by his style. I used to travel to Bengaluru every fortnight to attend the classes of his senior most disciple, MT Rajakesari in 2003,” Sachin says.
While continuing to learn from Rajakesari, he came under the direct tutelage of Guru Karaikudi Mani in 2006 “Mani sir’s style has created a huge impact in the world of percussion. As a disciple, there’s a responsibility and privilege in carrying that forward,” adds Sachin.
The responsibility might carry great weightage but for Sachin, it’s more of a balancing act. Previously a software engineer and now, the head of operations at a curated online marketplace, juggling between profession and passion is, surprisingly, what keeps Sachin going.
Besides, he also collaborates and jams with artistes who play contemporary styles of music. “We often exchange ideas and engage in discussions, the brainstorming provides you with a better perspective of the art and improves your performance,” he explains.
Equal credit, is due to the city he resides in, despite the popular belief that Chennai is the place to be in for an artiste. “Chennai might have more sabhas, but opportunities in Karnataka are equally good. Bengaluru gives us a lot of scope to experiment and present classical music to new audiences.”
The desire to explore and innovate, Sachin says, is largely inspired by Guru Karaikudi Mani. “He has done projects such as Shruthi Laya, Amrutham and Unmatched among others. He’s extremely encouraging; showing us how to enhance creativity and adapt to other genres of music,” Sachin explains.
Collaborative works is just one of Sachin’s artistic goals. Ask him what drives him as he gets ready to hop back on a bus to Bengaluru after a quick two-day trip to Chennai, and he points to the corner of the room where his mridangam sits. “I’ll keep trying to promote and present new aspects of the instrument that continues to captivate me.”
