|
 Vaidyanathan Suresh is one of the few percussionists with an aesthetic sense of approach to performing on any percussion instrument especially ghatam his favorite earthen clay pot instrument! A rare drummer who has mastered this amusing clay pot, Suresh can adapt with remarkable speed & precision the techniques of drumming of any part of the world.
Dynamic, mellifluous and aesthetically aggressive is what Suresh would identify his style as. His unbelievable speed in grasping and retorting to challenging ideas of other percussionists on the stage is a great sight to watch.
His ideas are very original and simply soothing to listen but complex to counter.
The tonal quality on the ghatam is very difficult to achieve as one has to befriend the baked mud surface with his fingers. But the pots just love the FINGERPRINTS of Suresh. A Specialist in 'Double Gamaka' (i.e.) playing the Gumuki, the base notes with both wrists with equal ease, Suresh has developed numerous garlands of rhythm exclusive of his style. The uncompromising strict adherence to tradition clubbed with innovations, has won laurels for Suresh from doyens of carnatic music. Suresh always has an insatiable urge to learn new ideas and adapt different schools to perform on par with percussionists all over India and abroad. He has learnt the techniques of playing on a variety of South Indian percussion instruments. Mridangam, Kanjira, Thavil, Konnakkol, Dolki, are to name a few that Suresh has been performing on.
Working with his guru Shri TVG whose has performed in company of great jazz musicians like George Harrison world over, on Indian Jazz - East West fusion music for several years gave Suresh vast experience on composing and conducting Jazz Orchestra.
GURUS
-
Sri T.V. Gopalakrishnan, the versatile genius is the great guru, in whom Suresh found a teacher, friend, Philosopher and guide to mend himself into a complete musician in every respect. With Sri TVG, Suresh not only learnt the art and style but also discipline and humility which are the prerequisites for a dignified musician.
-
Suresh was adopted by Sri TVG when he was 12 years old, seeking a Guru, after winning the prestigious Talent Search Scholarship from Govt. of India in 1979. It was the beginning of a very fine relationship, and from then on Shri TVG's grace guides suresh in the hard pursuit of nothing but excellence in creativity, spontaneity and authenticity.
-
Earlier Suresh had a strong laya foundation and basics of mridangam and ghatam under the tutelage of Sri T R Harihara Sharma and ghatam 'Maestro' Sri Vikku Vinayakaram.
-
He had yet another good fortune of Late Sri Umayalpuram Narayanaswamy iyer a legend, whole heartedly blessing him with the peerless Kothandaramaiyer Bani and today Suresh stands tall uniquely possessing this rare treasure of authentic style in ghatam playing.
GHATAM TO GAANAM
He is no longer just 'Ghatam' Suresh. After three decades of his association with the earthen percussion instrument, Vaidyanathan Suresh has gained another recognition as a Carnatic vocalist. He gave his maiden vocal concert on 24th February 2005 at the Sathguru Thyagaraja Vidwath Samajam, Mylapore, in Chennai.
'Though ghatam is my passion I wanted to become a professional singer, too. Though I could not take up singing because of my tight schedule, there was always this longing to become a Carnatic vocalist. The maiden concert should have happened a decade ago', he says.
In fact, right in their childhood, Suresh and his brother Rajasekar, now an acclaimed mridangam vidwan, were initiated into vocal music by their maternal grandfather Angarai C Nataraja Iyer. So, in a way , he has now rediscovered his flair as a singer, the fundamentals of vocal music guiding him throughout his tutelage of percussion to develop his style as an appreciative accompanist.
'We (guru P S Thiagarajan and Suresh) are family friends and when I approached him, he was ready to teach me vocal music'.
Suresh, a cost accountant, worked for Enfield Motors and LIC, before quitting his high profile job to pursue a full-fledged career in music as a ghatam artiste and now, he has become a vocalist, too.
He was accompanied by M R Gopinath on violin, Narendraan on mridangam, Govindarajan on ghatam and Kannan on morsing who provided him wonderful support throughout the concert.
TITLES
-
Suresh has been awarded the prestigious Government of India Talent Search Scholarship in 1979 for a period of 10 years to acquire advanced knowledge and excellence in ghatam.
-
Awarded the first Umayalpuram Kothandarama Iyer Memorial Award by Sri Ragam Fine Arts, Chennai in 1997.
-
Suresh is the recipient of the prestigious President's Medal for winning the first prize for ghatam in the All India Radio annual competitions in 1981.
-
Appointed ASTHANA VIDWAN (Court Musician) of the Holy mutts of Ahobhila Mutt, Ahobhilam, in 2000
-
Appointed Asthana Vidwan of the Holy Mutt of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sankara Mutt, Kanchipuram in 2001
-
Awarded the title NADA OLI by Nada inbam, Mylapore, Chennai in 2002
-
Awarded the title Laya Vadya Sironmani by Sri Panchamukha Dwadasabuja Anchaneya Utsava Committee, Mylapore,Chennai in 2004.
CONTACT
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.ghatamsuresh.com
|
