Mridangist, singer, violinist, PhD in Music and a guru to many, 92-year-old TV Gopalakrishnan (TVG) is an incredibly versatile musician. Talking to him is like taking a trip down memory lane over 75 years of music.

At the age of nine, TVG played second mridangam for Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar at a wedding ceremony in Ernakulam. Chembai wanted TVG to move to Madras immediately but TVG’s father insisted that he complete his B.Com degree first. “I arrived in Madras in 1951 with only Rs 100, a few clothes, my mridangam and sruti box,” he says. Chembai was a warm and nurturing guru who nurtured TVG’s personality and accompanied him. He also told what should be learned from other gurus.

TVG joined the Accountant General (AG) Office, Madras, in 1952, and worked in the department for nine years after the state bifurcation in 1953, first for Madras State and later for Andhra.

“One more year, and I would have got a pension for life,” he comments.

At the inauguration of Andhra AG’s office, violinist Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu performed and TVG accompanied him on mridangam. “After the concert, he told me that I would be his choice after Palani Subramaniam Pillai and Palghat Mani Iyer.”

Bonding with Mani Iyer

TVG shared a special bond with Mani Iyer, who played the Mridangam in his 50-60 singing concerts. “He himself offered it,” says TVG. “He used to ask me what I was going to sing. In return, I would request them to make suggestions. Today’s headliners don’t expect co-stars to keep pace, he shares, recalling how, in the past, many would insist on rehearsing together.

Mani Iyer used to ask him to practice the songs a thousand times before the performance. TVG says, “Frequent repetition is necessary for perfection, and each note must follow the Shruti.” He advises musicians to worry less about new repertoire and focus more on how to execute their music, especially on understanding song lyrics and proper word division. TVG, who is also a trained Hindustani musician, says, “Though freshness should be injected with a new piece or two, the repertoire should never be completely obliterated.”

TVG performed regularly for All India Radio since 1949, and says that playing for specific periods of time imposed discipline. “In radio, I never ask who is assigned to me. As a senior artiste, I have acted for Sikkim Sisters and DK Pattammal.

with the giants

After a few concerts in other slots from 1962, TVG followed his mentors M. Balamuralikrishna, S. Performed in senior slots for Kalyanaraman, Sivanandam and MD Ramanathan. Since Chembai primarily preferred TVG playing to him, he performed only sporadically with other musicians until Chembai’s death in 1974. Other musicians with whom he performed included MA Kalyanakrishna Bhagavathar, S Balachander and TK Govinda Rao.

TV Gopalakrishnan performing at the 88th Annual Conference and Concert of the Music Academy in 2014. Photo Courtesy: R Raveendran

TVG also gave singing concerts in the senior slot at The Music Academy. Years later, in 2014, he received the Sangeet Kalanidhi. He says, “The Academy stands for the interests of musicians and has established a title that is as respected as any national award.”

Many TVG programs with violinist MS Gopalakrishnan (MSG) were memorable. He recalls an incident where both of them performed with DK Jayaraman. “Jayaraman was having trouble with his voice. I gently suggested that he use MSG and mine. Within minutes he found his way. The co-stars should make every possible effort to help the headliner. They should work on developing prudence (‘interest’). The violinists must not distort or twist the headliner’s music. Percussionists must learn restraint, carefully analyze the intensity and density of playing, and execute it appropriately.

On the duration of Thani Avtaranam, TVG believes that less is more. “Mani Iyer rarely played more than seven minutes.” What would happen if a mridangist goes far ahead of time? “I’ll just pick up the refrain.”

Different rubrics explain why many headliners prefer specific co-stars, he commented. “For example, I don’t sing without Varadu (violinist S. Varadarajan). Sanjay (Subramanian) also uses a specific set. He also urged the headliners to make room for co-stars. “It’s a sign of both a lack of skill and ego.”

“Percussion is difficult and different for the instruments.” He emphasizes that this is why some mridangists like Thanjavur Upendran, Guruvayoor Dorai and Umayalpuram Sivaraman were given preference for instrumental concerts. “You cannot get applause by playing musical instruments. The decibel level has to be brought down quite low, and even at that low volume, each letter must sound clearly.

Known for his subtle, lyrical and instrument-appropriate mridangam playing, TVG says, “Noise is harmful to the mind, psyche and ears, and is the very opposite of aesthetics – yet today, this is what generates applause.” Master musicians cite inadequate mridangam maintenance for the tala-sound noise. “Perfectly aligning the meetu and chapu of the mridangam is both difficult and time-consuming. Only a well arranged and perfectly tuned mridangam can be played melodiously. In instrumental concerts, the discrepancies are even more pronounced.

TV Gopalakrishnan’s presentation at the Spick-Mackay Workshop at Narada Gana Sabha in Madras on October 9, 1990. Photo Courtesy: D. Krishnan

He teaches Kacheri Dharma (concert etiquette) to all his students, he says. Referring to Varadarajan and mridangist Vijay Natesan, he further added, “I have guided the largest number of musicians who have performed across the world in multiple fields such as keyboard, saxophone, violin, mridangam and voice.”

“Now we have limitless opportunities – anyone can sing anything, wearing anything, in any way. However, who is really benefiting?” Wonder TVG. “Since today’s Rasikas are diplomatic, self-assessment and self-destruction as well as a clear guru/mentor are important. Our music is interactive – listener cum artist. Now he is gone. People say it’s ‘my music.’ We’re building our own audience with a mailing list. Then how does one generate a new audience? When will you exercise, meditate or practice if you are developing a media image? Spend time on yourself. Cult following is fashion – not obsession. Perform as Ishvara Arpanam – then humility, restraint and speed will appear,” TVG concluded.