Law and laya at his fingertips

Laya and law, music and words, Anirudha and mridangam &151; some of the things that seem to go together. K.S.R Anirudha belongs to that unusual mould where art and commerce merge with a degree of finesse and one complements the other. He belongs to the MTV generation, but is totally seeped in Indian culture.

He believes nothing can be more fulfilling than our tradition, values and way of life. Meeting him in his mother Sudharani Raghupathy's dance school, Sree Bharatalaya, one realises that Anirudha is much more than an artiste and lawyer.

Anirudha's mridangam training began when his mother, annoyed with his habit of tapping fingers on the table, put him under the guidance of the person who normally accompanied her troupe during dance recitals. There was no formal training, but a constant exposure to his mother's dance performances developed Anirudha's sense of rhythm. And a stage performance happened quite by accident. His mother was looking for a person to provide percussion support for her dance ballet. Anirudha had just performed at school using the writing desk as an instrument. When Vidya Mandir launched the Society of Promotion for Art and Music, R.Pavan, now learning music from Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, had requested him to accompany him as a drummer. The programme was a huge hit. "After this, my mother decided to give me a chance during one of her recitals at Krishna Gana Sabha. But I got a terrible review from Subbudu Sir . He had written that the drummer ruined the recital,'' recalls Anirudha.

Disheartened, he decided never to give it another try. But his mother egged him on saying, "Keep trying. Only then you can become a true artiste''. But Anirudha resolved not to take music as a full-time profession. He also comes from a family of lawyers. Thus, law became the next natural choice for a career. But his mother never let him forget the mridangam.

Anirudha has specialised in Income Tax and practises law. But he also manages to accompany his mother during recitals.

How does he view the changes in the cultural scenario, especially after the invasion of satellite television?

"To hold the audience interest, artistes have now started thinking about their presentation style and techniques. You could do research and other things, but unless it appeals to the audience, it means nothing. Art is for everyone. Not just for your own satisfaction. There has to be some sugar coating to keep art alive today.''

Anirudha also plays the udukkai, kanjira and other percussion instruments. He was awarded the Yuva Kala Bharathi in 1998. And his lecture-demonstration `Nuances of mridangam for dance' was adjudged as the best presentation at the 20th Natyakala Conference conducted by the Krishna Gana Sabha and for which he will be receiving the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha endowment prize this December.

To whom will he attribute his achievements ?

"The genes of my mother and god's grace in the form of my guru Madurai N.Krishnan. I also owe it to my mridangam guru, Umayalpuram Sivaraman," says Anirudha.

"I had never thought mridangam had so many dimensions. It is the king of rhythm because it combines rhythm and melody.''

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan requested Anirudha to accompany him recently in a concert at Abu Dhabi. Anirudha had gone there to provide percussion support for a ballet to be performed by his mother, Padma Subramaniam and Chitra Visweswaran.

What does he see for himself in the future?

"I think I can make a mark in both law and art. But if you ask me what I will be at 40, as Sudharani's son I will be Anirudha the mridangist. But will continue my legal practice too". He has enrolled for M.L (Master in Law), which he got through the cultural quota. "See how culture has helped even get an academic seat,'' he quips.

How much does he relate to the youth of today?

Parents should be strict. They need to have more time for their children, to keep them going on the right track.

CHITRA MAHESH

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