Guruvayur-Dorai.Pdf

A favourite of many musicians his personal and fruitful relationship with Dorai over the past 45 years. “Those days most students followed the gurukula system of learning but with a few PUSHPA VISUALS PUSHPA exceptions. Dorai, a day scholar, was one such disciple of Palani Subramania Pillai. Though he was never a regular student of Palani, he had great respect and admiration for his style of playing. Dorai had the golden opportunity of staying with Palani Sir (facilitated by Chembai) for nearly four days and as a keen observer, he picked up whatever he liked most from his “manaseeka guru”. Just how Palghat Raghu having been a disciple of Palghat Mani Iyer adopted much of Palani Sir’s style, Dorai too took to the Palani style to a great extent. With years of experience, Dorai formulated his own style. His style of playing for kritis is admired by musicians, and so also his tani avartanam. His mellowed, ‘down-playing’ for instruments like the veena and the flute stands apart.” “Most importantly, Dorai is extremely cheerful on stage and always supports and Guruvayur Dorai is among the more popular artists in the fraternity respects the main artist. If the main artist’s of musicians. Here is a sample of the admiration and affection contribution to the success of a concert is some of his colleagues have for him. 60% Dorai would embellish it to 80%. That is his contribution in every concert.” P.S. Narayanaswamy “Apart from all this he is my great friend Dorai is my younger brother,” says Sangita Kala Acharya and I really hope he receives the coveted P.S. Narayanaswamy. “I have known Dorai from the time his family “ Sangita Kalanidhi soon.” came down to Chennai and settled in Mylapore. Dorai was learning to play the mridangam, his sister Ponnammal was training as a vocalist, M. Chandrasekaran and another brother was learning the violin. Their residence was second home to many musicians like me. We used to meet almost daily and Dorai is profoundly affectionate and practise together. Those days were wonderful and unforgettable. I have “a great artist,” says Sangita Kalanidhi been closely associated with the family. We have travelled together M. Chandrasekaran. “Dorai’s playing extensively and Dorai would guide me in choosing my song list for is always a delight. The influence of the my concerts. He has shared a number of pallavis with me and Palani style was always evident in his I have immensely benefited from them. His style of playing for a playing, and now Dorai has his own bani kriti is just amazing! Dorai is much more than just an artist to me. He is which stands tall.” an affectionate brother, a close family friend and above all an excellent I heard him for the first time in 1955 human being.” when he played for violin vidwan K.S. Kalidas Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu. Right from those days artists would be happy Dorai is the ‘Ekalavya’ disciple of Palani Subramania Pillai,” says to have Dorai accompany them on “mridanga vidwan K.S. Kalidas, who, when approached, readily and his mridangam. He has played for happily agreed to share his thoughts about his dear friend. He recalled Veena Balachandar and Chittibabu 24 l SRUTI July 2016 I insisted that Dorai accompany me in my special concert. Such is the regard I have for his mridangam playing. Dorai and I enjoy a very special relationship.” Dr. S. Sunder Guruvayur Dorai is a fighter against adversities,” “says Kalaimamani Dr. S. Sunder. “He is a doyen in the art of mridangam playing. As a child I have, from a distance, heard him play for MS Amma in a concert. I have always wondered how his fingers had that much of dexterity while playing. While I had the opportunity of featuring him in our Music Forum programmes I understood that he was a great human being too. Once Guruvayur Dorai (mridangam), O.S. Thiagarajan (vocal) and he comes on stage, he takes over, and his strokes on M. Chandrasekaran (violin) the mridangam spread magic around. He has indeed to name a few. Our team of Sangita Kalanidhi Madurai overcome many adversities in his life. Nothing has T.N. Seshagopalan, Dorai and I, have presented hundreds of deterred him from pursuing his glorious career. He has concerts together and had an electrifying effect on rasikas. On travelled across the globe carrying the rather heavy a personal note, whenever I travel abroad with him I always instrument. Because of the love he has for the art he is enjoy sharing my room with him which I don’t do with others. revered as one of the topmost percussionists of all time. Our tour of the U.S.A. in 1984 with my daughter Bharathi I wish him very well and pray that he continues to grace and khanjira vidwan Harishankar lingers fresh in my mind. the field for a long, long time.” In 2005, when I was conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi title As told to USHA BHARADWAJ 25 l SRUTI July 2016.

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