Begin typing your search...
He was a lucid teacher, says his sishya
GK Srinivsan, an ardent disciple of the music legend Balamuralikrishna, loved the icon’s rendition right from his childhood. He was lucky to be taken into his fold in 1988 as student for seven years.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
“My guru has taught me songs in all the 72 melakarthas, Shyamlambigai (raga Mayamalavagowlai) ; Dakshayani (raga Naganadhini) to name a few. When asked about his guru’s bani, GKS says, “It is creative. My guru said he visualised a raga as an angel and described her. The alapana will be as he perceived the raga on that day.”
His way of teaching was lucid, says GKS. “He taught you phrase by phrase till you mastered it.”
My guru’s advice was: If you are interested in music, listen to numerous renditions by stalwarts. The ragas should linger in your ears. Sadhana is the watch ward. When you sit on stage, the rendition should be a confident and fearless one.
He was a genius and he broke the principle that a raga must have at least five notes. He released a cassette with an invocation song in Sarvasri, a new raga he had created. It is a vakra jati four-note raga. It finds its identity in the sa-pa-ma-sa phrase.
He did not believe in no oil diet for a musician. In fact I always used to get him omapudi (without garlic) before every music class.
—As told to Bhama Devi Ravi, Tuba Raqshan, Lalithasai
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android
Next Story
