This youth icon leaves me mesmerized with his views and perspectives on music just as he might be creating a similar impact on his audiences, listeners and fans the world over. Manjunath binds people across geographies, cultures and societies the world over with his spell of music and his true passion, the Mridanga.
Manjunath has been nurtured and nourished in music for many years now. He is associated with the Mridangam for the last thirty years and his first performance was the young age of ten. He accompanied his father to many concerts and performances when he was tender one and half year old child. When he shares this with me, I think of the deep involvement and engagement he sub-conscious mind might have had with the influence of music. But he admits with great sincerity that since music was instilled so early in his life and he entered the performance scenario so early, he realized the actual value and significance of music in his life after his graduation years. This was a performance he gave in Chennai and felt humbled by the kind of experienced performers and serious musicians he met there. Two years later, after taking up an internal challenge, he performed on the same stage and walked away with the honors.
There has been no looking back for this young musician as he goes meditative in his performance far beyond the nuances of time and space. Such is his dedication and passion for the art. Manjunath owes a lot of his proficiency to his formative years when he practiced away for 6 – 8 hours a day in Malaysia. He believes that those years added a lot to his growth. And yet, after all these years, he says he’s perhaps just reached the tip of the iceberg and he has a long way to go and many more milestones to cross.
While speaking on the art forms itself, he says that for any serious music form, the classical element forms the base. The base lends itself to various combinations and possibilities and opens up a whole world of opportunities for the serious musician and pursuer.
In this context, one can note that Manjunath has traveled more than forty two countries in the last fourteen years learning and performing at once with fellow musicians, new art forms, senior artissts and the masters, of course. Nice professional hazard, I would say! Manjunath is also uniquely qualified with the ability to read, transcribe and perform from a Western script. This is indeed a rare qualification and sets up apart as an iconic musician.
When asked about the role of organizations like Ananya, he is quick to say something very profound. Manjunath believes that the opportunity and forum provided by Ananya is like a seed, which is most important for one’s growth. It’s a forum, which is a key requirement to lay the right foundation for upcoming artists and first time musicians. It’s a great forum to encourage and build greater awareness among the youth. The founder, Dr. Ananya Raghavendra is always on the lookout for new talent and younger artists so that the required boost can be given to society. Over 70% of their programs center around the youth and this is also very important for the growth of the Bangalore music scene. It’s truly inspiring to see such artists like Manjunath applaud the role of such groups because it indicates that they haven’t forgotten their first steps and formative years.
What is this whole musical experience about, I ask? Music or a performance is always trying to tell a story to people. It has a beginning, a journey and a destination. People should recognize each and every note and feel the intent behind the performance. If one is successful in this, one can say that one has touched the audience. Even if multiple artists perform, the audience should hear one synchronous and harmonious voice. With each performance is freshness, an innovation – every performance is different and unique and each time a different story is told. I find this outstanding to hear his views on the performances and what it means to him. He adds that 90% of music is improvised upon and offers so much potential to innovate and render a new experience for the listeners.
His father Karnataka Kalasree Vidwan B K Chandramouli is a veteran Mridanga Artiste and has been a great motivation and inspiration behind his achievements. Manjunath learnt Mridanga under Karnataka Kalasree K N Krishna Murthy and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr T.K.Murthy. He offers his sincere gratitude to his Parents, Gurus, Percussive arts centre's founder Sri Bangalore K Venkatram, Dr Suma Sudhindra, Smt. Jahnavi jayaprakash, Sri Sri TAS Mani, Smt. Ramamani, Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma, Mysore Nagaraj and Dr Mysore Manjunath, Music composers Riccardo Nova and Rafael Reina, Members of Bhedam, Contemporary dancers Akram Khan and organisations like Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, Malleswaram Sangeetha sabha, Ganakala Parishat, Ananya and specially his wife, Ramya Manjunath.
Manjunath has accompanied many greats from India and abroad. To name a few a few are Sitar maestro Pandit Ravishankar, double Mridangam with Dr T K Murthy, Dr R K Srikantan, Dr M Balamurali Krishna, Dr L Subramaniam, Mysore M Nagaraj and Dr. Mysore M Manjunath (known as Mysore brothers), Dr. Suma Sudhindra, Chitraveena N Ravikiran, O S Thyagarajan, M S Sheela, Suguna Purushotham, Hyderabad Brothers and many more.
Manjunath has performed in all the major cultural centres of South India. He has toured Malaysia, Germany, Holland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, France, UK, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Georgia, Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Slovenia, USA, Canada, Brazil and so on for almost 40 countries. Recently he toured with Dr. L Subramaniam to Brazil, Canada and France for an ICCR tour in June 2011 and in UNESCO, Paris. He also performed with Sitar Maestro PANDIT RAVISHANKAR in 2011 in Oslo Norway.
He has shared the stage along some international legends like Kani karaka (Turkish Sufi singer), Lucio Dalla (Italian Pop music icon), Robin Eubanks (Trombone genius from USA), Akram Khan (UK’s renowned Kathak and contemporary dancer) Bibiena Quintet (a famous wind quintet from Italy) and the list go on. Impressive!
Manjunath was awarded Ananya Yuva Puraskar, an award given to a talented percussion player from Karnataka. He was presented with CMANA Award from Bangalore’s Percussive arts Centre in 2005 May. Adding to his merits he has also won Best Mridanga player in Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Karanataka Ganakala Parishat, Malleswaram Sangeetha sabha and the list goes on. When it comes to teaching, He has given numerous workshops in places like Amsterdam Conservatory, International Dance festival-Vienna, Sydney festival, Altamura (Italy) and many more which were well received.Manjunath was further encouraged by renowned artistes and Organisations like Sangeetha Kalaratna Sri Bangalore K Venkatram, DR. Suma Sudhindra, Sri Mysore Nagaraj and Dr Mysore Manjunath, Smt. Jahnavi Jayaprakash.
Manjunath strongly believes there needs to be far higher awareness of Karnatic music since its still not known outside the country as much as it needs to be. This is a musician’s music, he says and yet it has to reach to masses in its classical form. There is also a whole lot of untapped dynamics in the art form, which can be used and improvised upon.
The youth need an encouraging environment, a great supportive family to take this art form as a serious endeavor. He believes practice is the key to perfecting the art and its good to keep a continued focus on the same. With all his achievements, he humbly says that he is now anxious when he thinks of the music he needs to perpetuate to his sons and that he needs to do it right. After having reached many milestones, he even to this day feels intimidated by the audiences. This is because he feels that when they appreciate his performance, they have themselves set a new and a higher peak to reach.
It’s a pleasure to know this ‘simple human being and a good musician’ as he wants to be known. Hardly simple, isn’t it?
This youth icon leaves me mesmerized with his views and perspectives on music just as he might be creating a similar impact on his audiences, listeners and fans the world over. Manjunath binds people across geographies, cultures and societies the world over with his spell of music and his true passion, the Mridanga.
Manjunath has been nurtured and nourished in music for many years now. He is associated with the Mridangam for the last thirty years and his first performance was the young age of ten. He accompanied his father to many concerts and performances when he was tender one and half year old child. When he shares this with me, I think of the deep involvement and engagement he sub-conscious mind might have had with the influence of music. But he admits with great sincerity that since music was instilled so early in his life and he entered the performance scenario so early, he realized the actual value and significance of music in his life after his graduation years. This was a performance he gave in Chennai and felt humbled by the kind of experienced performers and serious musicians he met there. Two years later, after taking up an internal challenge, he performed on the same stage and walked away with the honors.
There has been no looking back for this young musician as he goes meditative in his performance far beyond the nuances of time and space. Such is his dedication and passion for the art. Manjunath owes a lot of his proficiency to his formative years when he practiced away for 6 – 8 hours a day in Malaysia. He believes that those years added a lot to his growth. And yet, after all these years, he says he’s perhaps just reached the tip of the iceberg and he has a long way to go and many more milestones to cross.
While speaking on the art forms itself, he says that for any serious music form, the classical element forms the base. The base lends itself to various combinations and possibilities and opens up a whole world of opportunities for the serious musician and pursuer.
In this context, one can note that Manjunath has traveled more than forty two countries in the last fourteen years learning and performing at once with fellow musicians, new art forms, senior artissts and the masters, of course. Nice professional hazard, I would say! Manjunath is also uniquely qualified with the ability to read, transcribe and perform from a Western script. This is indeed a rare qualification and sets up apart as an iconic musician.
When asked about the role of organizations like Ananya, he is quick to say something very profound. Manjunath believes that the opportunity and forum provided by Ananya is like a seed, which is most important for one’s growth. It’s a forum, which is a key requirement to lay the right foundation for upcoming artists and first time musicians. It’s a great forum to encourage and build greater awareness among the youth. The founder, Dr. Ananya Raghavendra is always on the lookout for new talent and younger artists so that the required boost can be given to society. Over 70% of their programs center around the youth and this is also very important for the growth of the Bangalore music scene. It’s truly inspiring to see such artists like Manjunath applaud the role of such groups because it indicates that they haven’t forgotten their first steps and formative years.
What is this whole musical experience about, I ask? Music or a performance is always trying to tell a story to people. It has a beginning, a journey and a destination. People should recognize each and every note and feel the intent behind the performance. If one is successful in this, one can say that one has touched the audience. Even if multiple artists perform, the audience should hear one synchronous and harmonious voice. With each performance is freshness, an innovation – every performance is different and unique and each time a different story is told. I find this outstanding to hear his views on the performances and what it means to him. He adds that 90% of music is improvised upon and offers so much potential to innovate and render a new experience for the listeners.
His father Karnataka Kalasree Vidwan B K Chandramouli is a veteran Mridanga Artiste and has been a great motivation and inspiration behind his achievements. Manjunath learnt Mridanga under Karnataka Kalasree K N Krishna Murthy and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr T.K.Murthy. He offers his sincere gratitude to his Parents, Gurus, Percussive arts centre's founder Sri Bangalore K Venkatram, Dr Suma Sudhindra, Smt. Jahnavi jayaprakash, Sri Sri TAS Mani, Smt. Ramamani, Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma, Mysore Nagaraj and Dr Mysore Manjunath, Music composers Riccardo Nova and Rafael Reina, Members of Bhedam, Contemporary dancers Akram Khan and organisations like Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, Malleswaram Sangeetha sabha, Ganakala Parishat, Ananya and specially his wife, Ramya Manjunath.
Manjunath has accompanied many greats from India and abroad. To name a few a few are Sitar maestro Pandit Ravishankar, double Mridangam with Dr T K Murthy, Dr R K Srikantan, Dr M Balamurali Krishna, Dr L Subramaniam, Mysore M Nagaraj and Dr. Mysore M Manjunath (known as Mysore brothers), Dr. Suma Sudhindra, Chitraveena N Ravikiran, O S Thyagarajan, M S Sheela, Suguna Purushotham, Hyderabad Brothers and many more.
Manjunath has performed in all the major cultural centres of South India. He has toured Malaysia, Germany, Holland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, France, UK, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Georgia, Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Slovenia, USA, Canada, Brazil and so on for almost 40 countries. Recently he toured with Dr. L Subramaniam to Brazil, Canada and France for an ICCR tour in June 2011 and in UNESCO, Paris. He also performed with Sitar Maestro PANDIT RAVISHANKAR in 2011 in Oslo Norway.
He has shared the stage along some international legends like Kani karaka (Turkish Sufi singer), Lucio Dalla (Italian Pop music icon), Robin Eubanks (Trombone genius from USA), Akram Khan (UK’s renowned Kathak and contemporary dancer) Bibiena Quintet (a famous wind quintet from Italy) and the list go on. Impressive!
Manjunath was awarded Ananya Yuva Puraskar, an award given to a talented percussion player from Karnataka. He was presented with CMANA Award from Bangalore’s Percussive arts Centre in 2005 May. Adding to his merits he has also won Best Mridanga player in Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Karanataka Ganakala Parishat, Malleswaram Sangeetha sabha and the list goes on. When it comes to teaching, He has given numerous workshops in places like Amsterdam Conservatory, International Dance festival-Vienna, Sydney festival, Altamura (Italy) and many more which were well received.Manjunath was further encouraged by renowned artistes and Organisations like Sangeetha Kalaratna Sri Bangalore K Venkatram, DR. Suma Sudhindra, Sri Mysore Nagaraj and Dr Mysore Manjunath, Smt. Jahnavi Jayaprakash.
Manjunath strongly believes there needs to be far higher awareness of Karnatic music since its still not known outside the country as much as it needs to be. This is a musician’s music, he says and yet it has to reach to masses in its classical form. There is also a whole lot of untapped dynamics in the art form, which can be used and improvised upon.
The youth need an encouraging environment, a great supportive family to take this art form as a serious endeavor. He believes practice is the key to perfecting the art and its good to keep a continued focus on the same. With all his achievements, he humbly says that he is now anxious when he thinks of the music he needs to perpetuate to his sons and that he needs to do it right. After having reached many milestones, he even to this day feels intimidated by the audiences. This is because he feels that when they appreciate his performance, they have themselves set a new and a higher peak to reach.
It’s a pleasure to know this ‘simple human being and a good musician’ as he wants to be known. Hardly simple, isn’t it?