Aparna S in conversation with youth icon and creative genius, B S Arun Kumar.
It’s hard to shake Arun out of his world of music, even as he speaks to me, he must be creating a new rhythm, a new beat and a new tune. This is one musician who is immersed in another world; I have to cajole him to step out of that world for our conversation. Such is the passion; such is the energy and enthusiasm this artist carries within himself.
After over two and half decades in the world of drums and percussion, Arun still innovates every day, brings a new dimension to the music he creates, performs and renders, believing each time that its important to re-invent himself every day. This also gives me an insight to the various depths, opportunities and possibilities that is possible in any form of music and art.
I would think him to be a good representative of a youth icon because he carries infectious enthusiasm for the development of the music field, he plays with passion and devotion, he is willing to carry the legacy forward and doing every bit to ensure the good music of our culture and heritage is perpetuated over time.
Arun started playing at the tender age of three, and gave his first performance at the age of seven when he played for BK Sumitra’s troupe. Arun recalls being very eager and fond of learning to play from his father, BS Sukumar. Since then, there has been no looking back for this young artist. It’s been one performance after another, one style of music form after another, one instrument after another. And more. Arun began years ago with light music, then went to film music, went to classical music, morsing, folk instruments and the list goes on. From the age of 24, Arun has been learning the Drums from the great maestro, Ranjit Barot. Arun says he feels totally mesmerized both by the instrument and Ranjit Barot. It’s a blessing to learn from such stalwarts and even perform with them, he says humbly. His musical repertoire is very strong and diversified adding to his wonderful experience.
After playing for so many years, Arun feels that instead of feeling arrived or accomplished, he feels there is an ocean out to there to swim deep and discover, to learn more and more. He feels he is exploring new possibilities each time he plays the instruments, he is getting creative, more and more immersed into the world of music, feels like doing more. I am as appalled as he is by the distance he feels he has to cover in spite of already achieving this much.
Arun says the great Sivamani says that Arun is my favorite drummer. Whilst feeling happy about it, Arun also feels that there is endless and infinite possibility into what he is doing currently. He wants to play endlessly, more and more, freely without constraints or barriers. This will make and produce good music.
“Music means everything to me, he says. I don’t know anything but this, there is no other world other than this. This is my universe, my entire world is musical, surrounded by music…” He shares that his guru Sri Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma says it’s important to enjoy and play, the results will always be astounding. So that’s what Arun does, goes far beyond the technicalities and creates music.
When asked how he feels about his popularity, he says he feels awed and scared. And that pushes him only to perform more and more, so sometimes when there is too much adulation, he blocks himself out of it and just performs without distraction, ‘bang the concert’ as one says.
In the world of music, the activities of organizations like Ananya is commendable, he says. And he has a personal affection for its founder, Dr Raghanvendra. This is because of the amazing efforts he is putting to encourage music even while he is a non musician. In 2003, Arun has been the recipient of the Ananya Yuva Puraskara. For a drummer getting an award like this, Arun feels very proud.
Good music can be magnetic, good music needs to be created and played on…he says. He also shares fantastic stage chemistry with his renowned vocalist wife, M D Pallavi. Together, they are part of several music groups, perform the world over and have a musical connection. They have created an interesting group called Humdrum (Humming and Drumming) which basically presents Kannada poetry in the world music genre. Feels great to perform with her, he says since she is a great musician herself. On stage, we are just two artists.
Music is a message from the divine, a selected few who can distribute the magic of music. Today’s youth lack the focus, Arun encourages today’s youth to be focused and dedicated.
Arun is grateful to his Father Sri Sukumar and my Mother Gayathri Sukumar, Guru and God Father Vidwan Anoor Suryanarayana, His gurus S V Giridhar , Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma and Ranjit Barot. He has also been encouraged by Smt B K Sumitra, Anil Kamath, Suresh - Ramesh, Blue Boys Orchestra, Sugandhar Melody, Sri Ashok, Sri Bali, Sri Maruthi, Sri Shabbir Ahmed, Sri Srinivas Achar, Sri late N S Murali, Sri N S Prasad, Sri Venugopal Raju, Padmabhushan S P Balasubramanyam, Sri Sivamani, Sri Ganesh & Sri Kumaresh, Chitraveena Ravikiran and All Senior Drummers and Percussionists of Karnataka.
Plays on western drums, morsing and several Indian folk percussions. Has been in the field of music since 1986 and rendered percussion support to Carnatic Classical, Talavadya, Jazz music, Light Music and Dance performances. Has given performances all over India and has toured Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, UK, Belgium, Spain, Luxemburg, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Denmark, Russia, Muscat, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dabi, Kuwait, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, U.S.A, Canada, South Africa and Algeria.
Founder member of Layatharanga, a team of young percussionists, which has received wide appreciation all over the country.
Has performed along with eminent musicians like Sangeeta Kalanidhi R.K.Srikantan, Vainika Shiromani R.K.Suryanarayan, T.V.Gopalakrishnan, Dr. L.Subramanian, Dr. K.J.Yesudas, Kalaimamani Kadri Gopalnath, Chitraveena Ravikiran, Mysore M.Nagaraj, Ganesh Kumaresh, Jayanthi Kumaresh, Dr.Suma Sudheendra, Shashank, Neela Ramgopal, M.S.Sheela, R.A.Ramamani, Nagamani Srinath, Sudha Raghunathan, Nithyashree Mahadevan, A Kanyakumari, Lalgudi G.J.R.Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Palghat Sriram, Embar Kannan and Sikkil Mala Chandrasekar.
Has performed with internationally acclaimed saxophone artist George Brooks. He has Accompanied the Percussion Artists like Layakalanipuna A.V Anand, Kanjira Kalashiromani Late H. P. Ramachar, Sangeetha Kalaratna Bangalore K. Venkataram,Sangeetha Kalanidhi Trichy Sankaran, Great Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussian, Haridwaramangalam A.K. Palanivel, Mannargudi Vasudevan, Muttukumara Swami, Ghatam V Suresh, Sivamani, Selvaganesh and Ghatam Karthick.
Has performed with percussion ensembles like Nandi Talavadhya Academy, Layalahari, Layasurabhi, Layamilana and has been a part of special projects Percussive Arts Center’s percussion ensemble.
He has also Accompanied India’s Renowned Jazz Musicians like His Teacher Ranjit Barot, Amit heri, Karl Peters and Keith Peters.Performed with many leading Film Music Directors Has worked with Padmashri.S.P.Balasubramanyam, K.J.Yesudas, P.B.Srinivas, Suresh Wadker, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, P Susheela, S Janaki, L.R.Eshwari, Vanijayaram, Kavitha Krishnamurthy subramanyam and Chitra.
He has several performances to his credit. Here are some of the important ones. Performed For 50th Year Indian Independence at Netherlands.Performed at Switzerland for Europe Yoga Conference on 1998 at Zinal, Alp’s mountains.Performed At Barbican centre With East West Fusion in 2000. Performed at Barcelona Festival with Pepe Habechualle and Bollywood strings at Barcelona in 2000. Performed with Ghatam Karthick’s group a Varnasi for Shivarathri on the River Ganges. Performed in front of India Gate Delhi for “Swar Utsav” 2003 with Violin Maestros Sri Ganesh Kumaresh’s “Colours of India”. Performed with Sri S P Balasubramanyam for his T V Show.
All this My hands are aching writing this list of his achievements. Fantastic, Arun! For Arun, the world is his music and music is his world. Perhaps it’s a meditation or a deep penance, it’s a journey where he goes seeking his destination, where is unified with his instruments and involved in the act of creation, of good music and good musical experience. We wish you luck, Arun!