With eight a long time of a musical profession to his credit score, mridanga Vidwan AV Anand has not solely accompanied star musicians, however has additionally led solo percussion periods on world music platforms. “I have had the privilege of accompanying five generations of star artistes on my mridanga,” says Anand, whose his first live performance was with Violin Chowdiah when he was barely 11 years previous.
After that live performance, Anand says, he was mentored by Chowdiah in additional than simply musical finesse. Alankar Venkobachar Anand, a recipient of the Karnataka Rajya Sangeeta Vidwan, additionally credit his guru, Ghata vidwan KS Manjunath, for his basis in rhythm and laya (tempo), and provides he was additionally impressed by mridangists Palghat Mani Iyer and Palani Subramanya Pillai.
AV Anand, who simply turned 90, is being felicitated on June 28 by senior musicians and percussionists at Layananda, a musical occasion, that may have a good time his life and achievements.
“With no dramatic walloping on his instrument, Vidwan Anand has demonstrated how his aesthetic-thumping hardly ever overwhelms the main artiste. He has passed on his signature Arai Chapu and fingering techniques to hundreds of students who are successful percussionists today,” says senior musician Ramakanth Srikantan, who has been observing Anand’s expertise from the Nineteen Sixties.
The maestro’s modern percussion compositions at the moment are obtainable as on-line classes freed from value on his web site. “Creating the site was a two-year intellectual exercise,” says Kalashree, Anand’s daughter, speaking concerning the Herculean activity undertaken by two of her father’s senior college students — Abhijit S and Puranika V Bhatta.
The duo recorded practically 1,000 classes in audio and video codecs and curated the content material for the positioning. Apart from the official launch of the web site at Layananda, the occasion will see musical tributes to AV Anand.
Mridangist AV Anand
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“One has to follow a disciplined lifestyle to become a complete musician, and AV Anand did so,” says vainika D Balakrishna, recalling his father Veena Doreswamy Iyengar’s impression of Anand. “Anand embellishes compositions to add to their melodic value, but what youngsters need to observe are his solo pieces where he packs in curious combos and technicalities,” says Balakrishna, who additionally performs the mridanga.
Early begin
Hailing from Holenarsipura in Hassan District, Anand, born to Venkobachar and Nagamma, accomplished his BSc from Mysore University and went on to retire as senior chemist from Amco Batteries. “I started learning the mridanga from KS Manjunath as a six year old. His teaching techniques were methodical and systematic, with complex laya patterns made easy due to his friendly formatting,” says Anand.
He provides, ”At the time, I by no means thought I might maintain on to them for a long time. I not solely loved what got here my means but in addition labored in direction of enhancing my artwork so I might nurture a refined subtlety to my displays. I don’t imagine in dramatic makeovers, aural pleasantry is what I’ve all the time geared toward.”
As a younger musician, each class was an eye-opener and each live performance he heard on the radio or in particular person opened one other window of understanding. “Laya is not just rhythm to support melody. One has to understand how to make the stream of beats flow in a manner that synchronises with the presentation. Basic lessons can take you only to a certain level, but improvisations based on your foundation and observations lead to a signature style,” says the maestro.
“When my guru had me play informally for ace performers who visited his home for practice sessions, I grabbed every opportunity to widen my repertoire. Every student has to practice, and his homework must include listening to concerts.”
Mridangist AV Anand
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Within a decade of his first live performance, Anand had earned the reward of musicians corresponding to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, TR Mahalingam, ML Vasanthakumari, Semmangudi, Dr.M Balamuralikrishna, DK Pattammal, RK Srikantan and lots of others for bringing a soothing high quality on to the dais.
He has been invited for live shows and lecture-demonstrations within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore. Anand can be a recipient of prestigious honours such because the Sangeeta Kalarathna by the Bangalore Gayana Samaja and the TTK Memorial Award by the Madras Music Academy amongst others.
According to star vocalist MS Sheela, “Anand’s restrained touch on the mridanga, with a clarity of strokes to embellish each style of presentation, aptly mirrors his soft persona earning him accolades from all generations of artistes.”
Layananda, felicitation of mridangist AV Anand, will happen at Pathi Sabhangana, NR Colony Rama Mandira on June 28, from 9.30am. Entry free. Log in to layananda.org for extra data
Published – June 27, 2025 11:17 am IST
