Its a delight to know that Smt. Meenakshi, the ghatam maker in Manamadurai has been chosen for the Sangeet Natak Akademi award 2013. A woman of great substance and immense determination,she has been a guru-figure to me, has helped me recontextualise the ghatam in the history of Carnatic music and has brought me closer to my instrument. I fondly cherish all that I learnt during the days I spent with her. Many of us that play on the ghatam that has passed through her hands are ever indebted to her for her labour of love. Its indeed a great honour for her and for the fraternity of ghatam players. —
As a tidbit of info, I have been told that there are two kinds of ghatam one is the manamadurai and the other is madras ghatam. The manamadurai ghatam is hard to play and i think overall the consensus is that it has more richer sound as there is special "metallic mixing" . Never knew the maker of manamadurai ghatam is Smt Meenakshi . I am assuming metallic mixing is a top secret like coca cola recipe that only few families know and possibly this lady is part of that family.
Congratulations to Smt Meenakshi and also Hyderabad brothers,Aruna sairam, trichy sankaran and thiruvizha jayashankar in getting the sangeet natak academi awards
For those of us who are happy to hear Sukanya play the ghaTam so well, it is heartening to know that Tirumathi Minakshi of MAnAmadurai has been creating this age old instrument! Another 'award' for womenfolk!
vaNakkangaL to her...
And of course to Aruna Sairam and all the men who have been awarded this year.
I am delighted to hear that an instrument maker is eminent, recognised, and now receiving a prestigious award. On top of all that, I had thought that all these trades would be male-dominated.
This is a wonderful piece of news.
rajeshnat... of the two kinds of ghatam, one is much lighter weight and easier to get a ringing tone from. The other is thicker and heavier.
Personally, particularly glad to hear of award to Sri Trichy Sankaran, as he is the one I have seen and spoken with. I am sadly ignorant of nadaswaram music and musicians.
