Even as a toddler he used to drum his fingers on every object that produced a pleasing sound. His grandmother gifted him with his first percussive instrument, a khanjira! Wondering whom we are talking about? Yes, it is Sangeeta Kalanidhi Umayalpuram K Sivaraman, the mridangam maestro who was at Odyssey recently to launch his 7 pack DVD of Mridangam teachings 'Mridangam Cintamanih'. He also inaugurated a four day Carnatic fest and as a part of the fest, taught a few students of Ramjhi's Isai Mazhalai who also performed at the store.

The 7 DVD's has 4 levels which range from basic lessons to the advanced level. Says K Sivaraman, "Mridangam Cintamanih is an encyclopedia of mridangam as I have exhaustively covered all the techniques and essential things an mridangam player must learn. It will be like learning from a guru himself. From the sitting postures to the handling of hands, I have explained in this DVD." So did he face a lot of difficulties in bringing out this DVD? "Yes, there were a lot of struggles I had to cross through. A lot of people have helped me come up with this DVD. In fact, I would consider this as my Magnum Opus."

Videos : Encyclopedia of Mridangam launched

After the launch, the maestro played a few excerpts from the DVD. Playing in the adi tala, he was just at his usual best! Heir to the glorious lineage of the sishya parampara of Saint Thyagaraja himself, he is also a double graduate in law and has done his IAS. He takes classes and encourages his students. He believes in 'Music has no age' concept. "Cintamanih means a jewel; so also, this will be very useful and precious to the music fraternity, music lovers and for aspiring students. Classical musicians, Hindustani and drummers along the world can refer to it as I have put in all my teachings and style. My own compositions of matching korvai's and mohra's can be found."

The first level is a foundation course, the second level deals with advanced lessons of gati bedham, the third tani avarthams, and the fourth level encompasses a demonstration of the style of accompaniment on the concert platform by the maestro.

Mridangam has always been his childhood passion and interest. He also advised the students there to practise for a minimum of 2 hours daily and said that he would practise atleast for a minimum of 10 hours per day. He emphasized that music and learning Mridangam should be taken as an education and not as a hobby. "The voyage of Mridangam is like a high voltage current. It does not give shocks, but gives only pleasant surprises." He signs off.

Anitha.R
Dec 13th 2008

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