Two recent book releases from Carnatic vocalist R.K. Padmanabha can be classified as being noteworthy and commendable.
While the first, Mela Maala is an effort to familiarise the musically initiated with the 72 Melakarta ragas based on the 16th Century Venkatamakhi scientific classification, RKP employs his own compositions to take the scales across.
First time in Kannada
“I wanted to bring in Kannada devaranamas for the first time in the 72 mela ragas. They exist in Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil, but not in Kannada,” he says.
The book contains lyrics and notations and Mela Maala CD contains recordings of the same by RKP.
His compositions have several focal points — eulogy of the deities, society's evils, social problems and the intricacies of music. While the 15th mela Mayamalavagowla has lines written for a student who could adapt the couplet as a melodic prayer to Ganapati, his musical illustration for ragas Kanakangi and Ratnangi articulately draws attention to the usage of the two different Nishadas in each, drawing attention to its styling.
Sixty-two-year-old Padmanabha, who has 80 compositions to his credit and has tuned 100 kritis of Vadiraja, composed the 72 mela raga devaranamas in about 18 days, his morning walks providing inspiration!
Music as theme
But would you believe that the same man so steeped in Carnatic music is penning a novel too?
“My Kannada novel Anantanaada is intrinsically associated with classical melody,” explains the vocalist.
“For someone who isn't a stranger to the world of lyrics and composing, creative writing shouldn't be an unfamiliar path. I have had certain turning points that made me what I am today, and my novel too brings out the fact that some [indelible] incidents in life can drive people to become achievers.”
Guru's efforts
He then harks back to the time his guru, H.V. Krishnamurthy, worked on him as a 25-year-old to give his best.
“I felt helpless with my non-performance and broke down once when I just couldn't get the lines right. A friend's insult hurt my morale and the discourteous remark made me take up music as a challenge, which proved a turning point.”
So was that an inspiration for Anantanaada ?
“Ta Ra Su's novel Hamsageethe was my original inspiration but my personal experiences too helped me weave the storyline,” says RKP.
