Chat / Trichur V. Ramachandran
Carnatic vocalist Trichur V. Ramachandran belongs to the tradition of the late G. N. Balasubramanian.
He had his initial training in Carnatic music from Varkala Subramania Bhagavathar, Trippunithura R. Krishna Iyer and later under the maestro G. N. Balasubramaniam.
He has been selected for this year's Sangeet Natak Akademi awards. He will also be conferred the title of Madhura Kala Praveena by Sri Sadguru Sangitha Samajam, Madurai in January 2004.
Why did you choose to train from GNB?
His voice and his style of rendering the songs fascinated me. Even as a young boy I had great admiration for his variety of songs in the concerts. I used to dream of becoming his disciple.
When did you become his disciple and what were your experiences?
I completed my graduation in Chemistry in Trichur in 1960. Listening to GNB's kutcheris, I wanted to be a carnatic vocalist.
I went to see GNB in his house in Santhome, on Palace Road in Madras. He asked me to sing with a raga alapana. I took the raga 'Panthuvarali' and elaborated it with alapana and sang the Swati Tirunal composition 'Sarasaksha paripalaya'. He immediately took me as his disciple.
Was it like one to one class?
Absolutely no. It was an informal atmosphere. It was not a gurukulam where students stayed with the guru. I stayed outside in a rented accommodation on Kutcheri Road. (In the photo above, he is seen pointing to the house). I should be in his house sharp at 7 am. He was a Sri Vidya Upasagar. The music sessions will be for two hours and sometimes even four hours.
He will teach a new 'urupadi'. Then he will sing two other songs in the same raga just for me to observe how he modulates his voice for raga alapana and how he starts a kriti. I learnt a lot from observation. He always insisted on observation. There was more of songs and less of talk.
What was your part in GNB's kutcheris?
I used to do the pinpattu. Some times he will give me a chance to sing one full stanza, while he drank hot water. We shared the kalpana swaras, once he will sing, the next I will sing. In this way, he prepared me to hold a concert.
Your memorable days with GNB?
GNB was the Principal of Swati Tirunal College of Music for a year. I accompanied him and stayed very close to his house. I used to get flowers for his pooja. I became very attached to him. I used to fold his clothes. Once we went to Thanjavur for a concert. Kanchi Periyavar was in the town. We went to see him. I bowed down to do namaskarams. But Kanchi Periyavar insisted that I do the namaskaram to the guru first and then to him. I learnt that the Guru is more important than a religious head.
Once I went to Thiruvaiyaru for a concert with my guru. He had high temperature and fever and could not sing. Our next concert was in Thirunelveli. A large gathering welcomed us. My guru did not want to disappoint the music lovers there. With fever he sang for four hours. That was the relationship between the singer and the audience.
How do you organise your concerts?
I follow my guru. The previous day before the kutcheri I decide the songs. I give a variety including compositions of the Trinity and some Tamil compositions.
What made you learn Hindustani music?
It was M. S. Anantaraman who motivated me to under go training in Hindustani music. He was an accompanist on the violin for my concert in the USA. While I sang a ragamalika, one raga had the trace of a Hindustani raga. He advised me to learn Hindustani music. So for ten years from 1992, I trained in Hindustani classical music from Pandit Krishnanand of Kirana Gharana. I have given some concerts in Hindustani style in Tamilnadu.
His wife Charumathi and daughter Subhashree are also carnatic vocalists.
Trichur Ramachandran resides at flat 5, Avatar, 27, Balakrishna Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur. 24421644.
