For percussionist Sivamani, music is passion. He believes it cannot be taught and should come from within. By Jigyasu Joshi
Anandan Sivamani can play drums, octoban, kanjira, empty soft drink bottles, pillows, kitchen utensils and can possibly transform anything into a source of music and create new gamut of rhythms. Performing at the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-2016, he believes that it is a woderful effort by the Government of India to assemble people for experiencing the rich cultural heritage, the country has to offer. “I feel honored for they invited me to play at this event,” says the percussionist. From dark recording studios in Chennai to performing alongside legends like Billy Cobham, Sivamani has come a long way.
“I started learning drums in my mother’s womb. In fact her heart beat was my first track,” he says. However, professionally Sivamani credits his success to inspiration derived from stalwarts Noel Grant, Billy Cobham, Trilok Gurtu, louis Banks and Prakasam. He also states SP Balasubrahmanyam as his godfather. “He heard me play drum once and asked my father if he could take me for a road trip. That was the beginning,” he says.
For him, drums and music is passion and self-learnt. It runs in his blood as his father — who he also considers as his favourite drummer — was a leading percussionist himself. “I have learned a lot from my father. I remember once when I had my board exams and he asked me to play drums with him for a concert at Singapore. I went and that time I played in the hall of 10,000 people,” shares Sivamani. “For me it was more of a choice then chance to become a drummer,” he adds. The ace Indian percussionist says that he first practices his beats on pillow. “Till now, I practice my beats on pillows first. They have a bounce. And when the same rhythm is played on drums, it gets magnified three times,” he tells.
Collaborated with many national and international artistes in the span of more than 35 years of his career, he believes in experimentation and says that it is through experimenting only that we can create something new. His collaboration with singer Hariharan for the ghazal album Kaash was much appreciated for his trialing with beats in ghazals. Sivamani reminisces the time he played at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival with the folks artistes of the Rajasthan. “It is one of the most memorable performances I have given. The singers and the musicians there were simply fantastic and extremely talented. I had a great time practicing and performing with them,” he says.
Talking about his association with A.R. Rehman, Sivamani says, “He is like my brother. We have worked together in films and have also done music tours together. Also Rehman has guided me throughout and gave me some of the best musical pieces like Humma-Humma, Chaiya-Chaiya and Nadaan Parinde to name a few.”
Asked many times by his fans, for a long time now, to setup a music school for training and grooming of the potential drummers in the country, he says, “Well it is one thing I’m asked a lot and finally I have decided to open a music school. The plan is still at initial stage but in near future I will start shaping this idea with my team.”