The second edition of the Mahindra Percussion Festival (MPF) will be kicking off in Bangalore this weekend, with two days of performances at the Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts.
The artist lineup includes Vikku Vinayakram’s Ghatam Symphony, Taufiq Qureshi’s Surya ensemble, Two Summ, Ashtanayika, Swarathma Percussive Experience, Rhythms of India, and Charu Hariharan.
“In the context of Indian music, there’s a saying that goes ‘Shruti mata Laya pita’ – which means melody is the mother and rhythm is the father of music. Here, we are celebrating the glory of an element of music which grounds all of us and keeps all of us together,” Varijashree Venugopal of Rhythms of India tells World Music Central.
“MPF play the role of presenting to the audiences some of the most exquisite, traditional, and at the same time, groundbreaking musical ideas that we don’t get to witness daily,” she adds.
She considers herself fortunate to have been born to musical parents. “They introduced me to music and introduced me to my first mother tongue, which is music,” Venugopal recalls.
“Our objective is to bolster the power of percussion, especially in India where this art form is so widely appreciated but is yet to find its foothold,” says Jay Shah, Vice President – Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group.
The cultural festival portfolio of the Mahindra Group includes the Mahindra Theatre Festival, Mahindra Kabira Festival, Mahindra Blues Festival, and Mahindra Roots Festival. See our write-up on the inaugural edition of MPF last year here.
“This isn’t just a music festival; it’s a cultural movement celebrating percussion tradition. It’s a dynamic platform that ignites a dialogue between tradition and innovation,” says VG Jairam, Founder of cultural production firm Hyperlink Brand Solutions.
Taufiq Qureshi
The closing act of the festival features the ensemble Surya led by percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, whose eldest brother is tabla legend Ustad Zakir Hussain.
“It is a great feeling, and it’s fantastic that this kind of percussion festival is happening. We need more percussion festivals where percussionists and drummers can come together to express and define their music,” he affirms.
Percussive elements will also be incorporated into melodic content. “I will have a sarod player and a guitar player accompanying me,” Qureshi says.
His band incorporates tabla knowledge into African instruments, while also playing the jembe in the African style. “This allows the audience to experience a fusion of different traditions,” he describes.
The Surya ensemble started in the 1980s and was revived later with a young generation of musicians after a hiatus. The lineup includes Sarang Kulkarni, Abhay Nayampally, Kaushiki Joglekar, and Taufiq’s son Shikhar Naad Qureshi.
“Kaushiki Joglekar plays keys and harmonium. She understands jazz music and is also deep-rooted in the Indian classical style of music,” Qureshi explains.
He observes that Indian audiences today seem to love fusion music. They appreciate Indian classical music packaged in different ways, and not always in an hour-long performance.
Qureshi was also in the Bollywood film industry as a professional musician and started blending jembe and tabla influences from the 1990s onwards. He has produced the acclaimed albums Rhydhun, Colours of Rajasthan, and Bombay Fever.
Collaboration and trends
“It’s indeed an honor to perform at the Mahindra Percussion Festival. As artists, we have been allowed to explore and present something different, and that is a bonus,” explains Two Summ’s Viveick Rajagopalan.
“Through the medium of mridangam and a variety of interpretations, we began a deep friendship, which has now extended itself to the concert stage,” his collaborator Anantha R. Krishnan enthuses.
Digital platforms have made it possible to increase exposure to a variety of sounds from the Indian diaspora and global artists. “In this context, technology is really aiding the projection of music,” he adds, commenting on industry trends.
“I feel excited and a bit nervous at the same time to be in the lineup with artists who have been an inspiration since my childhood,” admits percussionist, singer, and composer Charu Hariharan. She has put together a folk and tribal percussion ensemble along with bands Kattunaykkar Jenukuruba and Kozhikode Nanthalakootam.
India has a vast and diverse legacy in percussion. “Yet, much of today’s music scene is about vocal music and performance. Festivals like MPF will help create a space to understand and appreciate rhythm more,” Hariharan adds.
Artistic resilience
The artist journey is full of ups and downs, and the festival musicians share their experiences in dealing with challenges and bouncing back.
“The approach that has helped me the most is meditation and self-awareness. It helps me realign with why I do what I do. And I’m blessed with a great family and a good circle of friends and masters,” Hariharan explains.
“One just has to accept a challenge the way it is, without trying too much to deal with it. It is better to be aware of each and every opportunity that comes your way and make it worthwhile for yourself to have chosen a musical journey,” adds Rajagopalan.
The musical quest comes with a lot of stretching and expanding creatively, according to Venugopal. “This means that there are always new waters to tread. It takes a while to actually find yourself and to arrive at a point where you have something to say, and for people to hear what you say,” she describes.
But what the audience sees in a piece of art is the finished product. “What goes behind it is a thousand failed attempts. As much as it is easy to get disappointed with failures and give up, I’d rather choose to take these as good challenges that lead me towards my path even more fiercely,” Venugopal explains.
“I’m always evolving as a musician. I go and perform. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s okay. Sometimes it’s bad also, but an artist is always an artist,” Qureshi explains.
“You have to keep seeing that. I let the audience decide what is new in the performance. There are ups and downs, but an artist bounces back. The music makes us bounce back,” he poetically describes.
He advises aspiring musicians to not be afraid to dream. “If you have belief and faith in what you are doing, you will achieve your dreams. Do your Riyaz (practice) every day, and be open for inspiration,” Qureshi advises.
“It is nice to have the fire of curiosity constantly burning,” Krishnan signs off, as a tip for aspiring artists.
Author: Madanmohan Rao
Madanmohan Rao is an author and media consultant from Bangalore, and global correspondent for world music and jazz for World Music Central and Jazzuality. He has written over 15 books on media, management and culture, and is research director for YourStory Media. Madan was formerly World Music Editor at Rave magazine and RJ at WorldSpace, and can be followed on Twitter at @MadanRao.