by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

At a time when western culture and western music has captured the world, here is a person who is on a mission to popularise folk music among the younger generation. His popularity in the recent past has grown to a level that he was invited to perform at the AKKA festival held at San Francisco Bay Area, USA, during August 2014.

Meet, Amma Ramachandra, a talented singer from Devalapura in H. D. Kote taluk. A student of Folklore at the University of Mysore, Ramachandra has reached great heights as a singer. Having been accorded with many awards, Ramachandra remains humble to his teachers and friends.

Ramachandra, who recently performed at the Yuva Sambhrama, created magic along with his group comprising Ningaraju and others. His melodious voice takes the audience to a folk music journey and back to the era when such songs were popular. The specialty of Ramachandra is that he has never undergone formal training in music nor has he consulted any of the singers. The songs have been learnt by him all on his own like Ekalavya in the epic Mahabharata.

“I always wanted to be a singer since my childhood. Having come from a rural background I grew up listening to folk songs and watching many folk arts. My mother also wanted me to become a singer. Today, if I have reached this level it is only because of my mother’s blessings and teachers who encouraged me throughout,” says Ramachandra.

The story behind Ramachandra having a prefix ‘Amma’ to his name is also interesting. Ramachandra who loves his mother Devamma added a prefix ‘Amma’ (Mother) to express his affection to his mother. Since then he is popular as ‘Amma Ramachandra.’

His affection towards folk music grew during his Pre-University days at VSS College in Ratnapuri, Hunsur Taluk. Ramachandra was supported by his teachers and friends to perform on stage and he never looked back since then. After joining Maharaja’s College, his talent got a boost with getting selected to represent the University of Mysore at South Zone Inter-University Cultural and Literary competitions organised under the aegis of Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Ramachandra has represented the University in South Zone competitions on three occasions during which he secured gold medal once and silver in the other occasion. He was also the member of the gold medal winning team of University at the National-level.

Ramachandra, who is of a shy nature, says he felt afraid when he went on stage for the first time. “Encouragement from my teachers and friends gave me the courage and strength to perform on stage. Even today I feel butterflies in my tummy when I walk on to the stage but once I see the crowd and start singing I forget everything and continue to entertain the audience,” added Ramachandra.

Ramachandra owes a lot to his teachers Prof. Ramaswamy, Administrative Officer, University of Mysore and Dr. M. Rudraiah, Director, Directorate of Students Welfare, who have constantly encouraged him to perform at the highest level.

This talented singer was also among the top 5 contestants in Star Singer, a reality show conducted by Suvarna Channel. This apart, he is the recipient of 13 different awards including District Youth Award-2009, State Youth Award-2013-14 and so on to name a few.

According to Ramachandra, western music and film music just come and go but the folk music which originated decades back will live for centuries to come and continue to entertain people.

Amma Vasundhare Trust, started by Ramachandra, who presently resides in Bogadi, Mysore, has been working to popularise folk music among the youth. Ramachandra conducts folk and light music classes at his residence in Bogadi. He also plans to conduct folk music workshop for colleges in city on every Sunday free of cost.

With a little more encouragement from the concerned authorities, Amma Ramachandra can reach greater heights in the field of music. Every such talent must be encouraged like the University of Mysore has in the case of Ramachandra. SOM wishes him good luck.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Features Articles  / Friday,  October 31st, 2014