THE EARTHY MUSICIAN: GHATAM GIRIDHAR UDUPA

The GhatamMaestro Giridhar Udupa is spreadinglotof happiness thoughtherhythm. Discovering newpatterns keepingthe touchof Caranatic Musicmakes thismusician a n everlasting phenomenon of Energy and Triumph

Words - CHAITANYAA

Interview - PRAKHAR

"Music is the art to shift". Shifting emotions, trends and the process. To musicians like Giridhar Udupa, the fact works vice-versa. Instead of changing music he changed the trend by bringing countless modifications in an earthy simple instrument which caught youngsters at a great extent. Performing with artists of multiple genres and in front of audience having diversifying taste, he has conquered every corner with his music loaded with abundant positive energy. Having the roots in Caranatic Classical Music he has spread his branches to different genres of world, collaborating with different artists in the most interesting ways you can imagine. His band Layatharanga is a result of this extended experience. The variable sounds coming from variable percussion instruments making you to move you body in variably is a patent to Giridhar Udupa. Not only the move but the influential beats in Ghatam from even the most far percussion instrument is what this musician is discovering.

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Q. First of all, “Layatharanga”has completed 20 years of its existence last month. Congratulations for that. How do you see this journey so far?

A. Thank-You so much. Actually, Layatharanga was my dream project. The team is more like family. The musicians in the band are connected from the school days. So whenever we play, music becomes more fun. Our journey is being incredible because of many reasons and the most crucial of them is all of us are trained under the Caranatic Classical music. The second fact is we mix two different genre of music. Individually we have performed with every artist in the music industry. Where it could be a Bollywood musician or Caranatic musician or Hindustani Classical Musician, it’s a diversifying range of artists. From Pt. Ravishankar Ji to A.R. Rahman, our band members have performed with everyone. So, we bring changes to instruments we play which is derived from these great masters. And when we bring Caranatic, Western, Latin and everything together, the crowd enjoys the most. This brings the younger generation to classical music concert which is a big achievement for us.

Q. As everything evolves in the spectrum of time, how do you see this evolution in Ghatam?

A. Actually Ghatam is a very simple instrument. Not one can create much sounds out of it. There is no sustain sound of Ghatam as you find (makes Dhuuuuuum sound) in Mridangam. As I play with lot of percussionists, I take influence from their instrument and try to bring different sound to Ghatam by bringing their technique and rhythm style to the instrument apart from what has been played for years. I often try to adopt two extremities, like the drum and the base (Dhuuum-Takka Dhik-Dhik—Tak) which is not present in Caranatic Music. So I try to bring these little modification which amaze the audience. Suddenly they involve themselves and wonder what am I playing, this isn’t traditional caranatic style. This amazement somewhere brings the younger generation to Ghatam. We need to take the instrument to the young generation. Even I have some students whom I teach the instrument and they really enjoy that. And not much people are aware that, Ghatam is only been made by a single family in the whole world. So we need to support them too.

Q. Ghatam is being regarded as a Caranatic instrument, but you play with Hindustani Classical musicians as well. How different is to play with both classical forms?

A. Playing with Hindustani Classical musicians is always a challenge and I really enjoy that. By God’s grace I had the pleasure to play with one of the greatest of Hindustani Classical Musicians like Ustaad Amjad Ali Khaan Sahab or Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia or Vishwamohan Bhatt Ji etc. Playing with such maestros is tough as it is not always a Jugalbandi between Caranatic Style and Hindustani Style. I have played in Hindustani pattern adopting their rhythm structure with Hindustani Classical Artists. I have studied a bit of Hindustani Classical Music like the Tabla but even then it is not necessary as we need one full generation to master one form of music. So it is always a challenge to me and enjoy that.

Q. You know, Emotions are very important in Music, so as a percussionist, how a percussion instrument is able to deliver, variable emotions?

A. When it comes to the Percussion instruments, the high energy in the rhythm which is existing. And whenever I play I keep that energy inside me which is conveyed to the audience whenever I play in concert. And if we move forward, Music is always a synonym of happiness for me. So I play to spread happiness and positive energy. I cannot make my audience cry of my music. When I play badly they may cry, (Laughs) but I never do that. I am 100 percent sure that I make them happy and involve all my positive energy which is require in the present scenario of our life.

Q. Do you have any other interest apart music?

A. There are two things, one is cricket. I love playing and watching Cricket. The second is movies.

Q. Fantastic, So any favorite cricketers?

A. (Laughs) Maybe Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and of course Shikhar Dhawan, also he is very good friend of mine. He visited my house and even played Bansuri (bamboo Flute)

Q. What is next big project you are working on?

A. I am working for my foundation “The Udupa Foundation”, the festival we organise every year. We want to take our classical music to every corner. To government schools, to the rural areas and to every possible doorstep. So I am busy taking care of the activities of my foundation are curating the Udupa Music Festival 2020.

Q. So coming to the last question, What is Giridhar Udupa’s percussion for life?

A. Happiness and Positive Enegy!! It’s what Giridhar Udupa’s music all about.

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