Mridanga Debut-Akshay- disciple of Ramesh Srinivasan USA

[aditsrini]

The third day of the year 2013 was a memorable one for young eleven year old Akshay who had brilliantly accompanied on Mridangam for Sangeet Samraat Chitravina Sri. N. Ravikaran's Chitravina concert along with Kum. Akkarai Subhalakshmi on Violin and Dr.S.Karthick on Ghatam, in the presence of Padma Vibhushan Dr.Balamuralikrishna as Distinguished Guest of Honour and Shri.N.Gopalaswami, Former Chief Election Commissioner Of India as Chief Guest at the Tattvaloka Hall in Tenampet, Chennai. The hall vibrated with the presence of a galaxy of musicians, vidwans/vidushis and eminent personalities which included Sri Trichy Sankaran, Sri Mannargudi Eswaran, Smt.Jayalakshmi Santanam, Smt.Vaijayanti Mala Bali, , Sri. Neyveli. Santanagopalan, Chitravina Sri Narasimhan, Sri T.R. Subramaniam, Sri. Kalladaikurichi Sivakumar, Sri. Ashok Ramani, Smt. Rukmani Ramani, Sri. Papanasam Kumar, Sri. Mukunth, Smt. Kalyani mami, as well as Sri Cleveland Sundaram, Sri. Cleveland Balu among others. Akshay learnt Mridangam under the tutelage of Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan, the Director of Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts Center of California USA, the prime disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sangeeta Kalanidhi late Vellore Sri Ramabhadran.
The concert started off with ‘OmkaraPranava’ tuned in Shanmukhapriya, set to Aadi Talam. The Balamuralikrishna’s composition indeed was a great start. Ravikiran’s rendering of this piece resonated the ‘Om Kara’ in each of the rasikas’ hearts. This varnam was followed by the very popular ‘VaranaMukha’ in Hamsadwani. The fast-paced krithi kept the audience on their toes. Akshay’s astounding Arudhis were a highlight in this piece. The astute Mridangist kept the song’s Kala Pramana at its best, not to mention Ravikiran’s crisp Kalpanaswaras, which garnered the Koteeswara Iyer’s krithi. This was followed by ‘JeyaJeyaJagadeeswara’ in PoorviKalyaniragam. Next, was the main piece of the concert. ‘Dasarathe’ tuned inTodiragam, composed by Saint Tyagaraja. Akshay’s ‘tani’ for this 2 Kalai Aadi talam kept the audience spell-bound. The taniavartanam depicted his natural talent, his skill and the quality of training imparted by his Guru Sri Ramesh Srinivasan. It was a treat to the eyes to see the Mridangist perform at electrifying speeds. It rained applause throughout the hall after the Taniavartanam. This item was followed by the ‘PanchaJati’ Ragam Tanam Pallavi. Ravikiran’s genius was clearly exhibited in this Pallavi which was very nicely accompanied by Akshay, wherein Akshay did the trikalam himself and subsequently there was quick 2nd tani, which was well executed in this complex 28 beat thaalam. The second half of the concert consisted of a Javali in Paras and finally a Thillana in Jwijavanti. On the whole, it was a very soothing and intricate performance that was appreciated by all the rasikas.
Akkarai Subhalakshmi as usual was very supportive and with Ghatam Karthick made the concert scintillating. Also Ghatam Karthick’s support in the entire concert and in the Tani culminated in a wonderful Tani avartanam enjoyed vociferously by all those present. In addition ‘Konnakkol’ by Akshay enriched the whole concert. On the whole, the concert was outstanding, Akshay putting up his best for all the requirements for accompanying such a great vidwan Sri. RaviKiran.

Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts center guided by Sri Ramesh Srinivasan paid a gratifying homage to Late Sri. Vellore Ramabhadran in sustaining the Sarvalaghu Bani in this Arangetram of Chi. Akshay Venkatesan.
Dr. BMK speech: There is no age for knowledge. Master Akshay – We don’t believe that if you close your eyes and listen, he played like an experienced artist. He is lucky to accompany such a great artist Gottuvadhyam Sri. Ravikiran. Master Akshay will become like BMK and get fame and improve day to day, healthy and sound life.
There was a great poet in Andra Pradesh – Chellapillai Venkata shastri. Whatever he said had happened. He blessed me on my first performance at the age of 7. I am now giving that blessing to Master Akshay.

Sri. N. Gopalaswami speech: This hall is blessed by Sharadhamma and Guru Shringeri Jagathguru Bharathi Vidhya Theerthaswamigal. Having to start his musical journey is blessing for Akshay and auspicious. Akshay has accompanied today with the blessings of great achievers and senior artists. Akshay has perspiration, inspiration and blessings of his guru Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan. The name Akshay means “Akshaya” which means always full. My blessings are for him to keep up with this art and fetch name to his guru Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan.
Sri. Neyveli Santhanagopalan: today a very important event has happened. This arangetram is not like any other ordinary arangetram. This arangetram today has taken the stage to new heights. The benefit of playing for Sri Ravikiran is what one gets by playing for 1000 kacheries. Besides that, today because of the love and care that Sri Ravikiran showed throughout the performance gave Akshay strength also. Also he showered his blessings for Akshay and encouraged him. Today Akshay is fortunate to get all these.
If I have to say how today’s katcheri is, I can say that Sri Ravikiran gave everything in his performance. In the song Varanamugavar, how many varieties of `appiprayams’ he gave. Everything was extraordinary today. It makes one feel that if the composer himself would have sung today he would have sung in the same way Sri Ravikiran did. It was so perfect in that way.
Also in the song `Dasarathe’ in Thodi, every `gantharam’ was rendered at its best. Words cannot define the beauty of rendering. To tell the truth, I personally got benefited by listening to this today. This is the type of quality performance one should be fortunate to listen and thinking about the way Akshay played for this, we should think only of the great Sri Ramabhadran Sir.
Sri Ramabhadran Sir entertained his rasikas satisfying their ears, heart and soul fully for decades and then only reached the Feet of Bhagavan. Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, who is running Sarvalaghu Percussion art Center in San Jose, CA is the most favored and prime student of Sri Ramabhadran Sir. I know him for a long time since he was studying at IIT, Chennai when I used to go for `Mardigras’ Cultural inter-collegiete competitions. He is not an ordinary person. He is an IIT graduate.
I asked once Sri Ramabhadran sir` what is Sarvalaghu?’ He used explain in very simple terms. But to play it is not simple. Today the same thing was played as Pallavi. He would say it is nothing but `ThaKiTa ThaKaDhiMi ThaDhiGiNaThom ThaDhi_GiNaThom tha kitathakadhimi ThaDhi_Gi_Na_Thom, tha_dhi_gi_na_thom’. He would also play and demonstrate the same. Today it was done so elaborately like it has taken `Viswaropam’ and a pallavi have been composed. It was an acid test for Akshay and he has come out with flying colors. This is extraordinary matter. Playing for the pallavi this talam is like walking blind folded in a forest..
This pallavi contains five nadais or as Sri Ravikiran says it is Pancha Jaathi. Though discussion continues about Nadai and Jaathi, if he says that will be correct only.
When we speak of `Akkarai’s’ accompaniment today, it is like telling that `sugar is sweet’. So her play does not require any `vimarsanam’. She never plays for the sake of playing. It was like telling that `you throw any challenge , I will take it with ease’. As we all know you have to be highly skilled and knowledgeable if one has to accompany Sri Ravikiran.
The other day Sri Ravikiran was doing an elaborate demonstration at Music Academy. I have heard people talking about 22 sruthis and all that. But I heard that in his play on that day. It is true. The way he presented the `Gantharam’ in each one of the ragas was so beautiful and unique. When I listen to his music, I am reminded of Iyangar’s distributed presentation in `Matyamakala pramanam’. It is such a kala pramanam that there is no running away and always maintaining the speed. Sri Ravikiran gave that type of perfection and purity in his presentation today.
Now coming to Dr. Karthick’s play, what a wonderful pleasant `natham’ from his Ghatam. The joy he has within himself was given to us in plenty by way of jathis. What a firework we witnessed! At the same time, he is like a deep and silent sea in his knowledge of this art. It is the blessings of his gurunathar. I would say that Akshay was fortunate to play with Dr. Karthick today. We are all lucky to witness and enjoy this. Akshay should reminisce of all the grace he got…..
As Dr. Karthick reminded us, what he played today is based on Sri Ramabhadran Sir’s Korvai. We all march proudly in the path laid out by him.
Finally we are all having wonderful time with such great music today. I see in the sabha great musicians like Smt. Jayalakshmi mami, Sri Papanasam Kumar and also Cleveland Sundaram and Balu. What else this young artist need today?
May I have your permission to say about something I am proud of, similar to what Dr. Balamurali mentioned in his speech?
I am proud to say that Akshay learns vocal from me (indirectly as Akshay has started learning vocal music for over a year now – learning in Bay area from Sri Hari Devanath, senior disciple of Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan).
Finally, I thank Akshay’s guru and parents, for me who came to listen and enjoy the music, giving the opportunity to share my thoughts and give blessings to all the artists of today. I once again my congratulations to all the artists today and my blessings to the young Akshay.



Sri. Ravikiran: I would like to add one or two things to what has been said already. This pallavi was prepared few years ago and one year ago on my students sang this in a competition in Mysore later another student sang and won numerous accolades. Today only for the first time I am playing this myself.
This happened few months ago. I told Sri Ramesh “this pallavi is there in You Tube. If you feel comfortable your student is comfortable to play after practice then we can play this in katcheri”. Within a week after seeing the video, Akshay himself did practice on his thri Kalam. Then Sri Ramesh phoned me and said “yes we will do this pallavi for the arangetram”. To tell you the truth, playing this pallavi is not only a test for Akshay but also for all of us. If a Pallavi is simple we can develop that. If the Pallavi itself is sophisticated then we can develop only on the basis of its sophistication. Only because of the confidence given by Akshay, I decided to play this pallavi today.
Like everyone who spoke before mentioned including Sri Gopalaswami, talent is one part. But hard work, under good direction is the other important things besides talent. So hard work, good direction and talent are the three very important things besides God’s Grace. When the first three are there then the fourth one will come automatically.
In the last few days Akshay came to my house a couple of times. At that time I told him clearly that that there is no guarantee that I will play the same thing on arangetram. Even I myself don’t know what I will play on the day of the arangetram. So he should be prepared to play for anything I present on that day. On hearing that his parents and Guru were tense. All this was because of their attention with good intention without any pretention. Because of my confidence in Akshay’s retention, I told them ”there is nothing to worry. By God’s Grace everything will happen 1st class”. I have to tell the truth here today. Much of it I played today was spontaneous. Akshay coped very well with everything I presented. I am very happy for Akshay for his performance today.
For all arangetram students I would like to say that `Arangetram is only the first step in the long carrier. You have to play thousands of concerts and aim to improve every day.”
Today, having set the bar high, people expect lot more all the time from you. This is where the real test starts. You have to maintain and meet the expectations all the time. As I told recently, it comes with responsibility. Responsibility is nothing but response to ability.
I also want to add it was Vellore Ramabhadran Sir who was the first legend to accompany me when I was Akshay’s age.
I should also pay little tribute to Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, who is such a dedicated person doing his level best in bay area to teach and train students in Mridangam despite being very successful and fully involved in his professional field in the industry as well.
I will be totally doing justice today to a very important fact here. This boy is one of the few hundred kids who represent the health of the carnatic music in U.S. The prime movers of this movement in US are Shri V.V. Sundaram and Shri Balu, who are here today. Without any exaggeration I should say that both of them have created a renaissance for carnatic music in North America continent.
Today we see in Cleveland competitions several hundred children who participate have been grilled . Some of you might have seen the kind of grilling that people like Santhanagoplan are capable of doing. You know why they are grilling like that, because they know they can be cooked well. It is only to bring out the merits of the students and motivate them.
I am very glad that they are all present in today’s concert.
Papanasam Sri. Kumar: Pallavi – difficult one and playing for this Pallavi is like standing on a needle. Akshay’s konnakkol was great and have not seen much before in arangetrams. Support by Dr. Karthick was excellent. Akshay’s Tri kalam, playing Chapu, Sarvalagu was very good and apt. Unforgettable day.

[rajeshnat]

Thank you for your writeup. I just searched in youtube to hear Akshay venkatesan tani of a different conncert (from 5th minute there is a tani). Wow .The kid is cute with a well combed hairstyle, he reminds of his paramaguru nAdabhadran sir.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI8WhodVMHU

[LalithaVenkatesan]

Thanks for your posting. We will upload akshay's arangetram youtube link by next week.

[LalithaVenkatesan]

Hello,

Here is the you tube link of Akshay Venkatesan's mridangam arangetram video.




Akshay Venkatesan Arangetram

"Akshay Venkatesan Arangetram", a playlist created by lalivenkisfamily

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-olSXe ... F4B3XDqWyA

Thanks

Lalitha and Venki

[rajeshnat]

lalitha venkatesan,
I just listened to two of Akshays video, the kiravani pallavi in full and todi krithi . Akshay plays with lot of confidence and certainly when he sings few sangathis in that complex pallavi with a trikalam , it just reminds me of his paramaguru vellore shri ramabadran. Kudos to ramesh srinivasan and parents of akshay. A year before there was another arangetram where ramabadran mama blessed varun vishwanath, now I seee akshay.I hope to listen it to him soon in chennai , possibly he will join as another wonder kid from US who performs with a passion .

I also liked the first speech of Ramesh srinivasan

Chitraveena ravikiran,
Your pallavi in keeravani is awesome.

[mohan]

Congratulations to Akshay Venkatesan, his guru and parents! Enjoyed watching the video with my own son (another Akshay) who enjoyed it too!
Best wishes to Akshay V for a bright musical future!