Be it the traditional method of teaching or the Gen Next technology of webcasting, Mudhra Bhaskar and Dr. Radha Bhaskar are one savvy couple. The forces to reckon with behind Mudhra, one of the most cultural organisations in the city, the couple have slowly but surely ensconced themselves in a firm position in the art scene today.
The Mudhra brand is visible on various platforms – printing, recording, webcasting, magazine and workshops. While the couple speak of every achievement “as another small step to propagate Carnatic music,” it is the sabha that holds a special place in their hearts. Incidentally, the Margazhi festival conducted by the sabha turns 20 this year.
“But our journey has not been an easy one,” says the soft-spoken Radha. Overcoming several personal battles and professional one, the couple has today come up trumps, updating themselves with new technologies so as to take music to people of all ages – students, IT professionals, and even the aged.
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Music brought Bhaskar and Radha together. “I was his student,” Radha smiles. “I was brought to Chennai from Kolkata when I was very young to train with Bhaskar. And along the way, we realised that we had similar values and ideals. And that’s how we got married.”
Bhaskar, who began life working as a printer and designer, was always drawn towards Carnatic music. He learnt the mridangam from the doyens Mannargudi A. Easwaran and Karaikudi R. Mani and advanced training from Tiruvarur Bakthavatsalam, and has in the past three decades, accompanied many top notch artists. “I was always fascinated with percussion. Printing may have been a profession, but playing the mridangam is what gives me soul satisfaction,” says Bhaskar, who has done his Master’s in Rhythmology, and is a photographer as well. As for Radha, she completed her Masters and then a Doctorate in Music, besides a Diploma in Journalism, even while continuing her music lessons under the veteran P.S. Narayanaswamy.
Bhaskar and Radha say, “Over the years, we have tried to devise innovative methods to spread the arts and help people appreciate them better, like conducting music workshops for Corporation school children, or music quiz.” Radha’s Music Appreciation Programmes, which highlight basic nuances of classical music to rasikas, have been a great success. She says, “To understand music, it is very important to learn the basics.”
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The 52-week webcasting series Paalam too found widespread appreciation across borders. Says Radha, “Eighty-year-olds call us up and appreciate what we have done. Many are immobile and can’t visit sabhas. Sitting at home and listening to Carnatic music gives them immense satisfaction. And that’s the greatest reward for us.”
Son Jathsiwar is an mridangam player and an integral part of their day-to-day activities.
For Radha and Bhaskar, their endeavour is to make the classical arts accessible to rasikas, and get more and more youngsters interested in our culture and the arts. And that’s what keeps them growing from strength to strength.
Mudhra’s music festival
The 20th Fine Arts Festival hosted by Mudhra will be inaugurated tomorrow (Dec 6) by N. Gopalaswami, director, Kalakshetra, and presided over by Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti. On the occasion, the Mudhra Award of Excellence will be conferred on veteran Bharatanatyam dancer Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy. A. Natarajan, former director Chennai Doordarshan, felicitates. The festival concludes on January 4, 2015.
For more information, log on to www.mudhra.org or call 28264493/98400 72821.