Tuesday, October 01, 2019
Ganeshu - The tambura that wouldn't strum anymore
Till before the advent of the electronic boxes, the tambura was the only way to keep sruthi at a concert. Though there were disciples who would sit and strum this drone, there were dedicated tambura vidwans who would be present and be part of the music team.
These vidwans were musically trained and well versed in the nuances. Senior tambura vidwans would even be commanding on stage, once upon a time.
The tambura is today an endangered species on concert stage. The senior vidwans are happy with just a disciple holding on to a tambura on stage. The need for a tambura vidwan is much reduced.
Ganeshu was the senior most tambura vidwan one knew. How did one get introduced, what was his background, why was one able to get his confidence that he would speak freely and share his thoughts. One does not remember such things, neither bothered to ponder and find answers. After all, one did/does know many performing artists personally.
This frail old man was a class of his kind. Ever friendly and smiling. Always knew what he was talking. He would be professional on stage, when the performance was on. However when he is away from stage, he was a different person. With people he was comfortable with, he would be frank with his thoughts and opinions. They were objective and plain. His musical knowledge would be apparent in his analysis of music.
People who would hear him may generally think he was not clear. That he was just making some noise. For those who knew him, that was not the case.
Ganeshu was one man who could call a spade right on stage. A man who would openly say his thoughts even to artists.
Age and health made performances difficult. That did not spoil his spirit. He lived by himself and had his own share of life-worries. Afterall, who had/has a problem free life. That never stops you from enjoying life. That was Ganeshu.
After every concert he played or heard, he would go to atleast one of the artists and say "Naalaikku unga aathukku saapida vandhudaren. Oru vetha kulambu, thogayal porum. Appalam suttu pottudu." However, there is no verifiable instance when he actually had shown up for lunch the next day.
This article was published in Nada Inbam webpage
# posted by bharath : 3:53 PM
