Sukkanya Ramgopal is India’s first woman ghatam artiste.She learnt from the legendary Vikku Vinayakaram who gave India its first ‘Ghatam Grammy’.She’s the first to create the unique concept of Ghata Tharang playing six ghatams at the same time.And the first to set up Bangalore’s all-woman Carnatic ensemble.
Sukkanya,who has been invited to perform at the prestigious Madras Music Academy festival with the ensemble the ultimate accolade in the Carnatic domain shares her thoughts on women,ghatam and Carnatic music.Excerpts from an interview:
Tell us about the place of the ghatam in Carnatic music today.
Things changed for the ghatam after Vikku Vinayakaram.He has given it a place no one has,got it the right attention.Vikku has also made the ghatam internationally popular he’s played with an African ensemble that won him the Grammy,the only ghatam artiste to do so.Thanks to him,ghatam artistes can travel abroad today,which was once unthinkable.Ghatam is number five in Carnatic music vocals,violin,mridangan,khanjira and then ghatam.But,if it is taken more seriously than it was a decade or two ago,it means Vikku made the difference.
Why are there so few women ghatam artistes
It is very difficult to produce sounds from the ghatam.Even men find it difficult! It’s still seen as a ‘masculine’ instrument.Parents have to be convinced there is a future in the ghatam and that women and ghatam go together.
How did you get into it
I started on the violin,then learnt the mridangam.I then heard of Vikku and began to go to his concerts.I was awestruck.I asked him to take me as his student.He said,It is difficult for a girl to produce sounds on the ghatam.You are playing mridangam nicely,why not continue with that At that point,his father intervened.There is no difference between a boy and a girl for the ghatam.Teach her.She’s very hardworking. Vikku’s magic and his father’s perception of me made me his student.
And your family’s reaction
My mother was very encouraging.My father didn’t like it.He didn’t come for the first few concerts.A while later,he got interested and began accompanying me.Gradually,my entire family liked it and backed me all the way.
How do other musicians perceive you,a woman as a ghatam artiste
Generally,musicians are not very happy with women accompanists.It’s a long-held feeling and it’s still there.Even organizers are careful in engaging artistes.That’s why it becomes difficult for me to play with a stalwart like U Srinivas.And where musicians allow me to accompany them,I find the mike won’t be set right! It’s strange there is accommodation but not accommodation in entirety on stage.Shouldn’t all of us be one in a concert
How accepted do you feel in the music world
I do feel accepted.I have the highest ranking on All India Radio and musicians are comfortable with me.I perform at the Ramaseva Mandali at Chamarajpet and Seshadripuram every year.I go abroad too.This apart,I am saying the comfort factor for the woman ghatam artiste in a concert should be complete,no different from the comfort factor other artistes enjoy within the ensemble.
Is that why the all-women ensemble came about
Partly.The stage just had to be more accommodative or I had to find a way out.I found it an allwomen ensemble,the Stree Taal Tharang,was born.We found women for everything mridangam,veena,violin,morching and ghatam.While we do perform in Bangalore,performing at the forthcoming Madras Music Academy festival will be an honour.
How else did you innovate to ensure that ghatam’s up front
The most difficult thing in a Carnatic concert is to make people sit and listen to laya vinayasam.When it is the turn of the mridangam and ghatam,people walk out.I had to find a way out to make them stay,had to innovate.I brought six ghatams together and started playing melody on them at one go.Ghata Tharang is what I call it.It made a difference.People began to sit and listen.It is a first in percussion.No one plays melody on the ghatam.I had promised myself to move the ghatam from number five to number one.I am on the way to do that.Ghatam cannot and will not remain on the margins.
You are a Mathematics degree holder.How does it figure in music
Lekkachara is always fun even if it’s integral to music.What’s better than indulging in permutations and combinations to make phrases I enjoy making korvais thoroughly.
What’s your advice to students
Work hard.There is no alternative.
Do you have a woman student
Interesting you should ask.Very recently,I got my first woman student,the first in my 30 years of playing the ghatam.
Does it say something about women and ghatam
I am happy she has taken up the ghatam.But I’m aware there are very few women who do it.That’s precisely the odds.Braving that speaks for character and conviction.The impression that ghatam is masculine is very fundamental and changing it will be the challenge.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com
source: http://www.mobiletoi.timesofindia.com / E-Paper / The Times of India / Home> Times of India / Prashanth G. N, TNN / August 03rd, 2009