Taking off from tradition
The Hindu : Srekala Bharath’s bond with Bharatanatya began almost 35 years ago and she still brims with energy and enthusiasm to broaden her artistic perspectives. ‘Ghatam’ S. Karthick has scaled musical heights with the humble pot. Trained bythe master-percussionist Vikku Vinayakram and T.H. Subash Chandran, Karthick has accompanied veterans as well as present-day musicians. There was never a dull moment when the duo, who had earlier worked together in a fusion recital, met for a Take Two.CHITRA SWANINATHAN listened in.Srekala: Dr. Karthick (he recently completed his doctorate in Sanskrit), nobody can doubt your passion for ghatam. With so much weight you now resemble it.Karthick: You become what you think 24×7. Also, I worship Ganesha. (Both don’t stop laughing) Sometimes, people ask me whether I am Vikku sir’s son. They see some similarity between the two of us (besides of course the ghatam), may be because he is always on my mind.Srekala: Don’t you think gurus are god-sent?If the training is thorough, the rest will fall in place.Karthick: It even gives you strength to challenge yourself and go ahead with what you think is right.I used to stay close to Vinayakram sir’s house and was desperate to learn to play the ghatam. One day at around 8.30 p.m., I walked into his house.He was tired after spending a long day at his percussion school, yet was gracious enough to meet me. To my delight, he looked at my palms and immediately said, ‘you can play the ghatam well’. I could not have asked for more as a seven-year-old.Srekala: I too was so eager to learn that I would sit watching the senior disciples perform and pick up the nuances. My guru would jokingly comment, ‘I don’t need to take a class for you.’ It was hard work but there was so much fun.Karthick: It should be that way. Rock, rap or raga, it should fill you with joy.Srekala:…More
