From The Wings - G. Vijayaraghavan

From The Wings - G. Vijayaraghavan

- Anjana Anand

G. Vijayaraghavan is a mridangam and khanjira artist, nattuvanar, lyricist and composer. He is at home as a mridangist in both Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. He has over three decades of experience in playing for dance, and is also a sought after composer of jatis and lyrics. His sensitive approach to literature and music is reflected in his unique style of mridangam accompaniment for classical dance.

What were the major influences in your childhood?

I was exposed to music and literature from a young age. My father played the violin, though he did not take it up as a profession. He was a Sanskrit pundit whose passion was to compose slokas in Sanskrit when not in his office. His last work was composing the Ramayana in 80 lines. I hope to publish all his works sometime in the future.

Tell us about your mridangam training.

I started learning the mridangam at the age of six from Madurai T. Srinivasan. After his transfer to Hyderabad, I came under the guidance of Kumbakonam T.V Balu. Turaiyur Rajagopala Sarma presided over my arangetram in 1980 at the Sai Baba temple in Chennai. I accompanied N. Vijay Siva in my first concert.

I was very clear in my mind that I wanted to be a mridanga vidwan. I even refused an evening college seat because it meant that I could not perform in concerts. I held a clerical post at the Krishnamurti Foundation India school (1985-87), but I soon realised that I needed the time and freedom to pursue music the way I wanted to.

When did you start playing for Bharatanatyam?