From 1995, I began to perform drums in Carnatic percussion ensembles with my guru, vidwan S.V. Giridhar. Once my guru said to me that I would be performing in a special concert with him and some senior musicians of Karnataka. I was thrilled to see the great percussion artists of our state such as vidwans K. N. Krishnamurthy, Chaluvaraj, M. A. Krishnamurthy and B. K. Chandramouli.
- Once the doyen in the field of mridanga B.K. Chandramouli came to watch a concert by the Anoor brothers. The two of them were accompanied by their disciples and a violinist. Seeing B.K. Chandramouli, a pioneer in Konnakol art sitting in front him, Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma quietly made a request to the veteran to accompany them. “‘Enayya?’ he asked casually and accepted my request without hesitation. Such was his unassuming attitude,” recalls Anoor.
- “To see a senior artiste of that stature readily accepting an unanticipated request was more than overwhelming. I can think of a hundred such incidents which demonstrated his modest attitude,” he adds. In Anoor’s experience, B.K. Chandramouli encouraged junior artistes without any inhibition, and his words always ensued from his heart.
- Another Bangalore-based percussionist H.S. Sudhindra also points out Chandramouli was not only a scholar of high order, but a generous musician who invariably supported competent artistes.
- A left-handed mridanga player, he popularised the art of konnakol. He never denied the opportunity to explain the nuances of rythm in august gatherings. He served in various capacities with the board that conducts music exams in Karnataka. “I got the opportunity to interact closely with him during the reworking of text books for mridanga exams,” recalls Sudhindra.
- “Chandramouli’s face would reflect joy and enthusiasm and he could turn the whole atmosphere into a celebratory mode,” remembers Anoor, who was blessed to share a four decade bond with Chandramouli. Adding to Sharma’s observation, Sudhindra says, “when I met him a month before his demise, he was still blissful, despite his illness.”
- Except for the last three months, Chandramouli was deeply into music, both in India and abroad. “Distance never withheld Chandramouli from attending concerts and he regularly listened to the music by his contemporaries and juniors alike,” observes Anoor.
- His demise to the music connoisseurs means more than mere absence of a seasoned percussionist. “We have lost the unrestricted support from someone who knew the art inside out,” say Sudhindra and Anoor.
- As told to Manasa Kambanna
B. K. Chandramouli was lovingly known as BKC sir. I was very nervous to play with them but I was happy that my guru was with me. From then on, I played quite a few concerts with BKC sir, many of which were directed by my other guru vidwan Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma and vidushi Suma Sudhindra.
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When I accompanied BKC sir for the first time he was performing on the khanjira and reciting the konnakol. His konnakol recitation was amazing -- language and pronunciation crystal clear. He was a great inspiration to many artistes of my generation. On stage BKC sir was very active with his music and mathematical combinations which he executed with finesse and was a great support for the main artists and his accompanists. I have never seen his energy dip on stage. Whatever instrument he played, be it mridangam, khanjira or konnakol it used be perfect. BKC sir used to get prepared with muktayams which he used to recite before whole ensemble before getting on to the stage so that everyone would be in sync. His planning was amazing. He ensured that every concert was a grand success.
BKC sir was a fun loving person and easily mingled with all age groups. My friend Guru Prasanna (a very accomplished khanjira artist) and I, used to have lot of fun with him on stage. It was BKC sir who encouraged me to play drums when others in Carnatic music were not so happy about it.
BKC sir was even part of my Shabarimala group where I go every year with my team. He did many trips with us. He was full of enthusiasm to climb the hill even at his age, in fact, I can still feel his energy.
I was blessed to be associated with him for all these years and I will miss his energy and commitment.
(The writer is an accomplished drummer)
