Entering into RK Padmanabha’s house is akin to getting into a museum for music. Books, albums, devices and sound techniques share area with images and awards the maestro has obtained over time. “I needed a sacred area to savour music. My follow periods and bonding with college students occurs right here with the blessings of Maa Saraswati,” says the Carnatic vocalist.
A Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Padmanabha or RKP as he’s affectionately identified in music circles, turns 75 this week. His enviable vary defies his age and at smaller live performance venues, he hardly ever makes use of a mic, say senior college students who journey with him.
Soul name
Born in 1949, it has been 70 years since RKP started singing. “I used to be born in Rudrapatna, a small village on the banks of River Cauvery within the Arkalgud taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka; it holds the file of manufacturing probably the most Carnatic musicians within the nation. I used to be not born right into a musical household, however Rudrapatna’s soil and air permeate musical tarangas (waves) that birthed melody in me,” he says.
By the point he was 5, RKP says he had already heard the highest musicians of the time at Ranga-Geete (music theatre). He credit his deep vary to this preliminary publicity the place open throated singing was inspired. “I even took up enacting Karna’s function after I needed to sing Kumara Vyasa’s poems throughout coaching periods underneath the long-lasting Gamaki, Vasantha Lakshamma,” he recollects.
He goes on to clarify how scholar-veteran RV Srikantaiah, a genius, would enthrall connoisseurs with classic Carnatic classical melodies informally on the streets of Rudrapatna.
Vocalist RK Padmanabha
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Veterans of classical music who visited Rudrapatna throughout music festivals, sang in temples, at 100-pillared large bungalows, and on the banks of the Cauvery. “It was customary to have live shows at each celebration. I used to be mesmerised by music vidwans, their silk garments and their physique language whereas they sang. As a six-year-old, I bear in mind ready for hours to steal a glimpse of Violin Chowdiah — I used to be in awe of his persona and musical aura,” says RKP, who pursued his greater research in lecturers and music, in Mysore.
He finally enrolled at Violin Chowdiah’s Ayyanar School of Music in Mysore, to start his formal coaching in Carnatic music. As a young person, RKP made his technique to Bengaluru and accomplished his B.Sc from Vijaya School. He represented Karnataka in Ball Badminton and shortly bagged a job at SBI.
Nonetheless, he encountered veteran HV Krishnamurthy on the Vijaya School of Music in 1974, and that marked his return to music. “It appeared magical. Due to HVK’s Intense coaching I had my first live performance in 1975.”
Multi-faceted persona
Aside from being a musician, lyricist and composer, Padmanabhan can be an creator, instructor and director. With 75 written works to his credit score, he has directed a number of musicals, educated hundreds of scholars throughout the globe and has acted in musical theatre too. Nonetheless at 75, he says, “I’ve loads to do, and need to see Bengaluru abuzz with classical melodies. An necessary a part of my spreading consciousness is on sustaining shaarira samskarana (voice-culture) — a side paramount for musicians.”
He sees my eyes wander to the books and notes piled on his desk and says after he labored on ‘Vadiraja’s Teertha Prabhanda’ the place he documented the lesser-known features of the saint-composer’s visits to the ten sacred rivers in India, he was impressed to jot down on the saints Shankara-Ramanuja-Madhwa. “Vadirajaswamy blessed me with my pen and voice. I needed to present again to society so I constructed the Vadiraja Kala Bhavana close to Hulimavu, to host musical occasions.”
Vocalist RK Padmanabha receiving the nationwide award from President Murmu
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
RKP’s written works embrace 5 music-based novels in addition to 750 compositions in Kannada, Sanskrit and Telugu. “I’ve composed Navagraha kritis in Kannada and set them to music, other than 72 compositions in all of the Melakarta ragas in Kannada,” he says.
Speaking of what he has loved other than writing his autobiography, RKP says it was gratifying to analysis the ebook, Purandara Pitamahare, the place he sheds gentle on the greatness of Purandara dasa whereas dissecting his contemplative genius.
“Do you know why Purandara dasa might need most popular Mayamalavagowla for preliminary classes to Karaharapriya? Karaharapriya, a musical scale in vogue many years in the past, has excessive frequency ranges for swara prayogas and oscillations. What made Mayamalavagowla particular was its flat notes, making it best for novices. As a real Pitamaha, Purandara had the foresight to supply primary Carnatic classes in Mayamalavagowla.”
Good governance
His musical ventures apart, RKP additionally holds different necessary places of work. Because the Managing Trustee of Rudrapatna Sangeetotsava Samiti Belief, he’s liable for the Sangeeta Grama, an annual Sangeethotsava, now in its twenty second 12 months. RKP can be overseeing the constructing of a Saptaswara Temple at Rudrapatna, themed across the seven musical notes with a 70-feet tambura on the outside.
For the previous 20 years, he has been president of the Karnataka Ganakala Parishat, a sabha that promotes the musicians of Karnataka. RKP says the Parishat’s actions reaches rural pockets in all of the districts and cities with performances, education and workshops to deliver an consciousness of classical music to all.
RKP might be felicitated at Purandara Mantapa, ISRO structure on September 29, at 6pm. Entry free.
Revealed – September 25, 2024 11:56 am IST
