The Brew

ISAIGNANI FRAMED

MUSIC MAESTRO ILAIYARAAJAIN CONVERSATION

WITH ACE PHOTOGRAPHER

G. VENKET RAM

www.thebrewmagazine.com

Dear Readers,

The team has, this month, put up some really good interviews for you to enjoy. The Brew takes a moment here to thank all its encouraging readers for always coming up with the best of compliments. The inputs are priceless and always welcome.

We have Ilaiyaraaja on cover this month, and as you will discover, this personality has contributed immensely to Indian cinema through his extra ordinary patience and modesty. I thank Venket Ram who made this possible.

Interviews have always been our forte, and we decided to make this issue a rare collection of interviews this time with all our generously endowed interviewees opening up especially for you.

Inside as you leaf through, expect Dr. Alphonso Arul Doss, Gunasekhar, Shravanthi and a lot more I would leave for you to pleasantly discover. As our journey to the musical states of North East India started last month, this month too, we give you a little taste of that passion!

We are just getting started! Keep Brewing

Until Next Time

Sameer Bharat RamEditorE

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Edited and Published by Sameer Bharat Ram, and owned by SM BrandMuni Consulting Pvt. Ltd,Published from No.609, Lakshmi Bhavan, Anna salai, Mount Road, Chennai - 600 002. Tel.: +91 44 4208 9392.

Printed by K. Srinivasan at Srikals Graphics pvt. Ltd, No.5, Balaji Nagar, 1st street, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai - 600 032.Editor: Sameer Bharat Ram

Creative DirectorMihir Ranganathan

Art DirectorSibiraj Bastin

Graphic DesignerAbhilasha Kushwaha

Sub-EditorSanchayan Deka

OperationsNishant Chopra

MarketingPraveen Khanna M. V.Niteesh MenonNimalan

Circulation & SalesSeeman Ezhumalai

ContributorsCover PictureG. Venket RamPhotographers S.Sriirama SanthoshSudarshanThamizhthambi

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BRAND PARTNERS

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CINEMA, MUSIC & ART WITH THE

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Mallika SarabhaiEducated as an economist and a business manager, Mallika Sarabhai is one of India’s best known Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers. She has taken her work and her company Darpana to not only over 90 countries around the world, but also to the farthest parts of India.

Venket RamVenket Ram is a leading Indian celebrity & fashion photographer, who has shot principal photography stills for several notable films as well as portfolios. he quit his engineering studies to work with cinematographers for a while, then joined a course in Visual Communication at Loyola College. After that, he worked with photographer Sharad haksar and in 1993, started his own studio. he recently released the first two editions of his annual calendars in 2011 and 2012 with an overwhelming response.

Neeru Nanda A graduate from Delhi University. Passionate about writing, she freelanced as a feature writer for ten years before switching to publishing. Author of a collection of short stories titled “IF” (Rupa & Co), Neeru is now working on two novels and a series of books for children.

Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini Internationally acclaimed, award winning Violin Maestros Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini have been widely applauded as the ‘Queens Of Violin’ and have enthralled audiences across the globe. They have been selected as Cultural Ambassadors and dignitaries to the US and UK respectively. They have published books and written numerous articles relating to Music and religion..

Ashok Verghese Is one of the youngest education entrepreneurs who is making a great difference in this field in the country. he is the Director of the hindustan group of Institutions, again one of the pioneering educational groups in the country. he supports the cause of promoting young talent in art and music.

Veejay Sai An award-winning writer, editor and a culture critic. he has written and published extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art, and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. he is an editorial consultant with over 40 brands and designers in and outside India and is on the jury for several prestigious awards in the arts across the country.

CONTRIBUTORS AND ADVISORY BOARD

Sethumadhavan N. Sethumadhavan.N holds an MBA from XLRI-Jamshedpur and has a background in the FMCG & Retail sectors.It was while leading the editorial team at PassionForCinema.com ( a popular movie portal that’s now defunct ) that Sethu realized that his true passion was Cinema and everything connected to it, including the business side of it.Currently based in Mumbai,Sethu works in the education sector and also runs www.madaboutmoviez.com, a portaldedicated to Indie/Small films,Regional Cinema and World Cinema. Sethu has also been associated with filmmaking workshops and film festivals.

Kavita BaligaThe young American Soprano, Kavita Baliga has sung in concerts around the U.S., Switzerland, Italy and India with repertoire ranging from Opera and Oratorio, Musical Theatre to Indian film. In 2008, Ms. Baliga joined A.R Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory as a faculty member and founded the KMMC Chamber Choir. She is presently developing performance programmes in India.

CONTENTS

10 14

2818 34

INTERVIEWS

10IN CONVERSATION WITH THE

LEGEND

dr. ALPHONSO ArUL dOSS

14 BREWING WITH

GUNASEKHAr

18 LIFE AFTER PI

SHrAVANTHI SAINATH

28PUSHING THE LIMITS

PUSHPANJALI BANEErJI

34HIGH TIDES

ArJUN MALLIK

22

VOL 03 ISSUE 04

COVER STORY

22ISAIGNANI ILAIYArAAJA

FEATURE

32SING YOU A LIFE

10 | jANUARY 2013 | CINEMA, MUSIC & ART WITH THE BREW

Born 1939, Alphonso Arul Doss is a world-acclaimed artist. he has held 14 one-man shows in India, 15 prestigious shows abroad, awarded on countless occasions and his works are in private and public

collections in countries ranging from India to Croatia. he is the only artist in India who uses the gemstone effect on the figures in his work and this technique he learnt after minutely studying the graded passage of light through a diamond. he leaves calculated white space on the pristine canvas which gives an original touch to his work. Former Principal of the Government College of Arts and Crafts Dr Alphonso Arul Doss was endowed as a Cultural Scholar by the Government of India Ministry of Education and Culture and was honoured with a doctorate by the World University, USA.

Let’s hear it from the legend in his words,

In conversatIon wIth the Legend, Dr. Alphonso Arul Doss

Q. Sir, tell us a little about your childhood.

A. My childhood was mostly spent in playground and church. My family were devoted Catholics, so we spent a lot of time at church. I started sketching there. My art was well appreciated and encouraged there. Even my school was very supportive and gave me a lot of opportunities to showcase my talent. It is then, when my teacher advised my dad to send me to some art school in Chennai. In 1957, I joined the Govt. College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai.

Q. How did things change at the Art College?

A. Roy Chowdhury was heading the college in 1929. he introduced work on sculptures at college and trained students brilliantly. The college gained popularity and attracted students from all over India. he spent almost 30 years at the art college and retired in 1957. Paniker took over the college after Roy Chowdhury. Paniker led the college in a very different manner and took it a step higher.

— SAMEER BHARAT RAM & NISHANT CHOPRA

ArT

Photo Courtesy: Thamizhthambi

CINEMA, MUSIC & ART WITH THE BREW | jANUARY 2013 | 11

He encouraged students a lot. He was highly influenced by European modernism. Later, I got lucky to meet a number of noted artists like, Krishna Rao, Dhanapal, Santhanaraj, Anthony Doss, Munuswamy and Ram Gopal at the institute. Ram Gopal was a very interesting person and a great teacher. I learnt watercolour techniques from him. Santhanaraj thought me oil and portrait painting. Another such artist who I idolized was Anthony Doss. Munuswamy was an excellent craftsman and an expressionist. Dhanapal guided me throughout and influenced me in many ways.

Q. When did you transform from a student to a professional?

A. I was fortunate to get an employment in the same college as an Instructor. I then studied more on Art Development. I got scholarships at Department of State Guest International Visitors program, Washington DC, USA and Asian Christian Art Association, Japan and

Christian Conference of Asia, Singapore in 1983 and at Air India Mumbai and ICMC England Gangotri Art and Culture Centre, Ahmedabad in 1985.

Q. When was your first show?

A. I showcased my work very late. The first show was a group exhibition organized by Paniker. One man show happened in 1979, when I got a call from the Brigham University, USA. The American professors and students found it very different and they applauded my work. That gave me confidence and things took off from there.

Q. Do you follow a distinct style?

A. Trained as a realist painter, I enjoyed mastering the techniques of Academic Painting. As a young artist I continued in the traditional school of thought studying nature, human forms and colours. My distinct style is an outcome of elaborately studying both the Indian and European paintings. Travel helped me to observe the


2000 Cherry creek Art Festival, Denver, USA2001 Spiritual Art Exhibition, Indonesia2002 Veteran Art Exhibition IFACS, New Delhi2003 Korean Christian Art Association Exhibition, Seoul

ONE MAN ShOWS hELD IN INDIA1997 Taj Coromendal Gallery sponsored by Aliance Francaise, Chennai1978 Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai1981 Sarala Art Centre, Chennai1981 Venkatappa Art Gallery, Govt. Museum, Bangalore1983 Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad1985 Krithika Art Gallery, Bangalore1989 Adayar Park Hotel Gallery, Chennai1990 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai1991 KCP Art Gallery, Bangalore1992 Kasturi Sreenivasan Trust Gallery, Coimbatore2000 Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai2001 DBS Gallery, Chennai

ONE MAN ShOWS hELD ABROAD1979 BF Larsen Gallery, Brigham Young University1979 De-Schakel Leisen hauge, holland1980 Brugerzaal Zwijndrech, Holland1982 Rose Speer Larsen, Holland1982 De Bonkelaars Slindrecht and De Rietgore, Museum of Modern Art, holland1983 Doshisha University Kyoto, Japan1983 International YMCA Gallery, Osaka, Japan1985 Treasure Room Gallery New York, USA1986 BF Larsen Gallery, USA and Ricks College, Idaho USA1998 Brim Hall, Brigham Young University, USA2003 Sangam Institute, Yonsai University, Seoul, Korea2005 Kwun Chung Centre, hong Kong2005 Center Point hotel, Bangkok2005 Siddharth Art Gallery, Katmandu, Nepal2009 Gnani Art Gallery, Singapore

nuances of temple architecture and blend them into my paintings and I have finally arrived at a stage where I can be happy of my unique style. I am fascinated by light which creates and supports life. Inspired by the prism, I got the idea of breaking forms in light. Like the dispersion of light, the forms are broken up resembling a scintillating mass from a distance which fuses to make a coherent image. Three major themes that I frequently explore are time, space and human relationships. My most interesting phase is the ‘Time and Space’ series, wherein I combine the cosmic form (Nataraja) and the swastika.

ALPhONSO ARUL DOS TIMELINEBorn 1939, Bangalore, India1957 Graduated from the Govt. College of Arts and Crafts1963 Recipient of Cultural Doctorate in Art Education from World University USA1992-1997 Principal, Govt. College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai

AWARDS1968 International Cultural Centre Award, New Delhi1969 Kalidasa Exhibition Gold Medal in Bhopal, MP1969 State Lalit Kala Academi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka1988 National Academy Award, New Delhi

SChOLARShIP1983 Department of State Guest International Visitors program, Washington DC, USA1983 Asian Christian Art Association, Japan and Christian Conference of Asia, Singapore1985 Air India Mumbai and ICMC England Gangotri Art and Culture Centre, Ahmedabad

PARTICIPATION1965 Commonwealth Art Festival, London1984 Contemporary Indian Painting Exhibition in Cuba and Mexico1984 South Zone Cultural Centre Exhibition, Chennai1986 Asian Art Biennial in Dhaka, Bangladesh1989 Paul Lingren Memorial Exhibition, USIS Chennai1989 Nehru Centenary Exhibition, New Delhi1989 The Bombay Art Society Centenary Exhibition1991 All India Drawing Exhibition, Chandigarh1992 Third Biennial of Visual Arts, Seychells1994 Nine Malaysian and Indian Artist Exhibition, Singapore1998 Group Show, Joshua Fine Art Gallery, Kualalumpur


Brewing with gunasekhar

CINEMA

Photo Courtesy: Sudarshan


Telugu filmmaker, Gunasekhar seems like a man on a mission! He has directed blockbuster Telugu films like Ramayanam (1997), Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa, Choodalani Vundi and Okkadu. Ramayanam has won a National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. Brew catches up

with Gunasekhar and talks to him about his journey, next mega project and close bonding with Thota Tharrani. here is an extract from the interview

— NISHANT CHOPRA


Q. Tell us about your early days in Telugu Film Industry.

A. I started off working as an Assistant Director to Kranthi Kumar and Ram Gopal Varma for 10 years. My first directorial venture in Telugu was Laati, starring Prashanth. That movie won 3 Nandi Awards. My next movie was Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa. Things then fell into place and I kept making good films.

Q. Has Thota Tharrani played a big role in your success?

A. Tharrani sir has been my guide ever since I was an assistant director. he always encouraged and brought out the best in me. he sketched the costume for the leading lady in Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa as a friendly gesture. That movie ended up winning an Award for Best Costumes! My first full-fledged movie with Tharrani sir was Choodalani Vundi in 1998, starring Chirangeevi. That movie was the first Blockbuster down South in 1998! The backdrop for the movie had the Kolkata feel in it. We spent around 80 Lakhs on putting up the set. It was the costliest set in South Cinema back then. The set felt so realistic, people thought we had shot the movie in Kolkata. Even after spending 3 Crores on a set of Meenakshi Amman Temple in the movie Arjun, we literally had to prove it was a set. This speaks volumes of Tharrani sir’s work. He is the first one to have a realistic approach to his work.

Q. What is the current project you are working on?

A. I have started working on my ambitious historical drama Rudramadevi. I had to consult historians to understand the aesthetics of the 13th century era. The story is set in 13th century for which we have to recreate buildings and forts from that era. To understand the aesthetics of these structures from a long forgotten era, we consulted historians with our art director before the start of the shoot. Tharrani sir has already started working on the sketches for the sets and very soon we intend to start working on it. Rudramadevi has Anushka Shetty in the lead role of the princess while composer Illayaraja is set to create musical symphonies for the film. The film will be made on stereoscopic 3D with Ajay Vincent as its cinematographer. Sreekar Prasad takes on the editor’s job.

Q. What made you take up such a big movie?

A. Rudramadevi has been on my mind for over 10 years now. I wanted to make this movie right after Okkadu. But since this movie is heroine oriented, not many producers were ready to invest in it back then. In 2009, Shyam Prasad had the courage to come up with Arundhati. Arundhati is also a heroine oriented movie and it proved the critics wrong! The movie did well and sent out a new message to the stereotypes. This gave me the boost to make Rudramadevi.

Q. Tell our readers a little more about Rudramadevi

A. Rudramadevi was a warrior queen of the Kakatiya Dynasty in the 13th century. She is the first woman in the world to rule over her kingdom for 40 years. her kingdom extended from Orissa border to Maharashtra border and parts of Tamil Nadu as well. Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler who paid a visit to the kingdom probably a little later, speaks highly of her administrative qualities, benign rule and greatness.




CINEMA



LIFE AFTER PI: Shravanthi Sainath

Shravanthi Sainath talks to The Brew on her dream coming true.

A Hollywood debut at a mere age of 15 is indeed an impossible dream.

Shravanthi Sainath tells us how one phone call from her classical dance teacher changed her life. She plays Pi’s love interest in Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’. The movie has Indian actors like Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Adil Hussain. Having set a mark already, she talks to us on her journey

Q. How did this whole experience happen?

A. Ah, I was preparing for my Board exams just like any other Xth Standard school girl. My classical dance teacher calls me one day and informs me that 20th Century Fox Film Corporation was in search of a classical dancer of my age to enact a role in an Ang Lee’s master class. They contacted my dance school, Sridevi Nrityalaya run by Sheela Unnikrishnan. With zero expectations for a hollywood movie, I gave them my photos. Before you know it, I got selected for an audition. The audition tape was sent to New York. After two months, the news broke out in my dance school and after a Screen Test in Taiwan, I was in for my big break!

Q. Wow, was Ang Lee a part of the audition process?

A. Yes, he did check out the tape in New York and later I met him in Taiwan.

Q. How was it to meet a Hollywood Director?

— NISHANT CHOPRA


a shot, “Not bad, you are a natural Actor!”, he said. I was left awestruck.

My first day of shoot was at 5.00 AM and I had 50 cameras staring at me. The first shot was the market scene.

Q. Assuming this movie is real, will you fall for someone like Suraj?

A. Most definitely, yes! He is a bit of a stalker and I like that. It would flatter me.

Q. How long did you shoot?

A. My role is very small. I shot for three-four weeks. I had a dance practice every day.

Q. What has been the biggest compliment you have received so far?

A. By God’s grace, I have heard only good stuffs and decent feedbacks. Like how Ang Lee mentioned earlier, people have found me very simple and a natural actor. Kamal sir’s compliment meant a lot, he went up on stage and said: “I envy these two actors who have entered hollywood

before me at this very young age.”

Q. What’s next in your bag? Any plans for your future?

A. Firstly, I want to finish off my schooling as soon as possible. Movies have always been my childhood dream! I will be selective and choose the best.

Q. What did you learn from this movie making experience?

A. “One needs to put in effort to make things happen.” This hard work was taught to me by Ang Lee. his dedication level is so high and he pays attention to every minute detail.

A. To say the truth, I didn’t know much about him. I knew he directed “hulk”. Only after searching him on Google, I got to know why he is rated so high in hollywood. he is so simple and humble.

Q. Being from a conservative family from Chennai, was it easy for you to take this step?

A. My family has been very supportive. My dad is very open minded about movies. My mom wanted me to stick to dance alone. But, given such a big project and a good role, I got all the support and encouragement from them.

Q. How was your first day of shoot?

A. The day before my first shoot is my most memorable moment. Ang Lee has a habit of rehearsals, in order to make the shoot go smooth. he made everyone go out. Staring at me, he asked if I had any acting experience before. I replied with a nervous “No”. In high spirits, he wanted my mind to be empty and just follow him. After



MUSIC


In conversatIon

wIth G. venket ram

IsaIGnanI IlaIyaraaja

When I walked into the ¬¬sets to shoot the musical genius Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, I had expected it to last a couple of hours. But to my surprise, the shoot went on the whole day and

was truly an experience of a lifetime for me. he blew me over with his totally down-to-earth personality & regaled us with his views on life, work, philosophy & the world around us. I did a couple of more shoots with him later & here’s what I have compiled. When I presented this to him, he was surprised and overwhelmed. he gracefully agreed to let me share the same with all of you on The Brew!

here’s an attempt to freeze those moments in time...

Photo Courtesy: G. Venket Ram


hOW I STARTED

Things started off when I decided to move to Chennai. My mom questioned “What will you do in Chennai? You don’t know anyone there.” I gave her a simple reply, “Why do you worry, if nothing happens, I’ll play the instrument sitting on the pavements and make my living.” Shocked on hearing this, she did not allow me at first. But, my mom always believed in me. She even sold an old radio for rupees 400 and gave me that money for my expenses. Imagine, a mom sacrificing so much and not saving even rupees 50 for household purpose. Mom saw me off. I started off blindly and courageously.

ThE JOURNEY

I began my journey to Chennai in 1968 with Bhaskar, leaving my elder brother behind. With only 400 rupees in our pocket, we decided to take a detour at Madurai before going to Chennai. We thought, we should make some money in Madurai via music and then set our course to Chennai. We knew a very close friend of my elder brother, in Madurai. My brother bought him gifts, every time he visited Madurai. We went in search of a place to him. he had an empty room above his house. But, he refused to rent that to us. he wasn’t happy with the fact that I left my elder brother behind. That broke my heart. But, I realized this world is not an easy place to live, one needs to slog it out!

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

L. Vaidyanathan, L. Subramaniam and I started off as assistants to G. K. Venkatesh. The recordings would start at 7.00 am in the morning and prolong to 11.00 pm at night. I wrote and worked on my music overnight. I had only 2 hours of sleep every night. This became a habit. I went ahead and persuaded Venkatesh sir’s session musicians to play excerpts from my scores. I worked with Viswanathan sir on the movie, Salangai Oli. he had the best musician group. his



music recording would be scheduled for 7.00 am, but it would start by 8.30 am only. he wouldn’t dictate them. When I worked with the same set of 75 top musicians, I had one strict rule “You need to be punctual, you cannot be late!” which gave a lasting impression.

INSPIRATION

C.R. Subburaman is my all time favourite music director. he died at a very young of 32. No one can replace his songs. he is the best music composer I have ever known. My other favourites are Naushad, Madan Mohan, M.S. Viswanathan, S.D. Burman, Roshan, G.K. Venkatesh, etc. You are satisfied after listening to their music. FAVOURITE INSTRUMENT I am very attached to my harmonium. harmonium is not a normal thing. It is not a wooden box. It is life, it is an art. Once, I lost my harmonium in a train journey. A foreigner getting down at Kodaikanal, took my harmonium box by mistake. I realized it only after reaching my station. Shocked at that moment, I didn’t know what to do. I had a program in the evening. I was also scared wondering how my elder brother would react to it. I was forced to find one harmonium instrument locally. Sadly the instrument was not comfortable like my old one. It was very difficult. But, I somehow managed. The harmonium box was later found at Madurai.

SINGING

I started my signing career in ‘16 Vayathinile’. I had no intentions of becoming a singer. I’m not trained either. It took me 27 years to learn the right symphony system. Though, I could play it on my instrument after hearing it just twice. Learning the system was very difficult. When I write lyrics for a song, it is almost impossible to change it. What my father taught me from his experiences may not happen to me. Every instance of my life has been different. I have never told my son how he should live his life.

Call me king or call me a minister, but I don’t have a kingdom!


CINEMA, MUSIC & ART WITH THE BREW | jANUARY 2013 | 27Photo Courtesy: G. Venket Ram


Push’ing The LimiTs

Pushpanjali Banerji, the Brand Manager at Kyndal India Pvt Ltd talks to The Brew about changing the game and association with Cinema, Art and Music.

Kyndal today is the fastest growing company in the premium segment overall across all flavours. It offers the most comprehensive services, manufacturing capability and distribution. It is the catalyst that sparks growth and investment.

— SAMEER BHARAT RAM & NISHANT CHOPRA


Photo Courtesy: S. Sriirama Santhosh


Q. How did you land up in the Liquor Industry?

A. Kyndal India was bought out by a management buyout led by my dad, Siddharth Banerji. My dad has spent 25 years in the liquor industry. Kyndal India launched brands like Absolut Vodka, Remy Martin Cognac, Bols, Jim Beam, Whyte & Mackay to name a few. It is something that my dad built and it is a dream come true for him. I have seen him work really hard all my life. I was very complacent in Advertising. I started interning at Publicis during my college. It is a very nice lifestyle and you get addicted to it. Later on, at an age of 17 or 18, I decided to join Kyndal India and take off this label of a creative person that I had created upon myself.

Q. How was the whole experience of joining such a big brand?

A. I started off by doing big multi-city events with Rajesh Pratap Singh. My dad had put me in the deep end of it. It was very over whelming and the entire experience was very thrilling. I decided this is where I want to be and take it forward. Kyndal is a very thinking company. It’s a company that plans its move. We don’t spend money on silly things. Nothing is short term and we work towards building long term relationships with the brands and companies. I am very lucky to have people around who are proud of me. I had to really work hard and prove my mettle.

Q. How did you change the image of Brandy?

A. Bols is the first international brand being bottled in Tamil Nadu. We created the premium brandy category. We saw an opportunity in the middle and Kyndal India had become the largest manufacturer of premium Brandy in South India through its JV-Bols Kyndal India Private Limited. Brandy has a very grandfatherly

Photo Courtesy: S. Sriirama Santhosh


image, we did not want the hot-water-and-brandy image. We are the new, progressive brandy. Bols comes with 400 years of experience in distilling and blending.

Q. Tell us about your association with Art

A. Art is gives life to the product. We are always eager to get International Artists. We also associate ourselves with alternative art. It could be Mime act, Body painting,or anything you name it. We have now launched Bols Premier, which is the most premium brandy. We want to take things up a notch and do things a lot more differently. We would like to see all artists coming together and collaborating.

Q. What are the other brands you are currently producing?

A. There are lot of things in the pipeline. This is going to be a hectic and crazy, but outstanding year for us. We need to look for value in everything we do, we need to own it and build it.

Q. Any work on Music?

A. At the moment, we do have a tie up with T-Series and have created some music CDs as well. Music will definitely happen. Music is a beautiful expression of art. I want to bring all types of artists from all kinds of mediums to come together. It could be a DJ and painter, it could be anything! It is no more about labels, we are done with that phase.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

A. I see myself working very hard. Bols is very close to my heart, I have made a lot of sacrifices for it. I see this company changing the game! Like it always has.


“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” Ludwig van Beethoven sparkled at

this thought his entire life. Though old, it surprisingly still persists even with science and internet spooning us to our chairs.

Where the clouds are often smoked by gun-fires and explosions, the scrumptious smell of smoked pork also lingers throughout the valleys of north-eastern India. People love to eat, drink, dance and most importantly make music, here. A young man or woman laden with an old guitar, walking away to oblivion is a common site. The population might have experienced the worst brand of extremist behaviour in the past, but the love has still always over poured. Regional folk music has been not only the cocoon for the birth of extraordinary modern-day musicians but also the base of numerous inspirations it has flavoured into their hearts and souls.

The population is highly aware of western music and culture. Since decades. The way they dress, smoke, drink and make music comes from a western influ-ence. Be it Bob Dylan-inspired Lou Majaw rocking the cold temperatures of Shillong or small acoustic bands seated on stools belting out their own compositions in small eateries, music becomes an inevitable part of the daily life. An evening stroll in the vivacious city of Gu-wahati may surprise you with the abundance of energy and liveliness the young crowd carries around. As night drives in, the chilled air is filled with the ecstatic smell of good food. “Celebration does not need an occasion. Music does not need an occasion!” a school going kid tried to make me appreciate that night while struggling to grab the last piece of roasted chicken on the plate. His acoustic band had just been applauded and praised by the ‘seniors’. He handed me the guitar and reached for a pen in his pocket, still struggling with the piece of chicken with the other, “here, let me sign you a napkin.” I smiled and let him. “Not because I feel I am famous tonight, but because you would want to be my friend when I am famous all over. And when I am and you need an interview, it wouldn’t be hard to reach me (chuck-les).” Rhan Pen, a Naga kid, has been brought up by his maternal uncle because his parents couldn’t afford a fifth child.

Sing you a Life

- SANCHAYAN DEKA

MUSIC

He grew up listening to his uncle play Christ-mas carols and sometimes songs about the wife’s temper. Rhan Pen enjoyed the atten-tion and took to the chords instantly. The band was just a baby-step; his uncle had made him a believer, in music.

Earlier Nagaland had entered the Guinness World Records for the ‘largest electric gui-tar ensemble’ to the tunes of Bob Dylan’s ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’. And on 6th January this year, Assam made its mark by holding the largest ensemble of drummers with 14,833 drummers playing ‘Khol’ (a tra-ditional Assamese drum) in unison. June 4th 2012, saw Assam accepting its long-awaited hug from Limca Book of Records, with a 5406 strong company of guitarists playing a tribute to the legendary Bhupen Hazarika.

The modernisation of folk music has al-ways inspired the young. Angarag ‘Papon’ Mahanta, an eminent Bollywood as well as Assamese singer has within a few years revolutionised the music trapped in the lost villages of the state to modern day elec-tronic music. The response has been ter-rific despite the inability of comprehend the primitive lyrics, which speaks of the rich culture and love. His tryst with the ‘Medi-eval Pundits’ helped the new crowd under-stand his take on music. He featured on Star World’s ‘Deewarists’ with Rabbi Shergill giv-ing the woods of Kaziranga (known for its one-horned Rhinoceros) a splendid aroma of folk and modern gimmick.

Christianity has always inspired music, and Shillong is the best example there can be. Its folk music is inspired by western music. Beetle nut-chewing women lead household here while the men oil their strings and dust their guitars. The beautiful hills of Megha-laya are a home to some of the most dedi-cated western music fans. Leading bands like Scorpions, Firehouse, Petra, Sepultura, Michael Learns To Rock, Eric Martin, White Lion and Mr. Big have had their best shows in India, here. They have left home speech-less with the crowd singing along to every word.

Sing you a Life

In the words of T.S. Eliot

“You are the music while the music lasts” and so should it.

Forever.


hIgh tIde: IntervIew wIth Arjun MAllik

Waves are one of the most beautiful ‘events’ of nature. Each wave hitting the shore is unique and like living beings, they are also impermanent. Capturing these temporary forms with lively watercolours is Arjun, a fine

arts graduate from Savannah College, Georgia, USA. Living in the coastal city of Chennai, Arjun has tried to subtly capture these beautiful entities. Using both opaque and transparent techniques, he has used them as dynamic backgrounds to subjects such as boats and rocks sculpted by the very waves themselves. Arjun has brought in his signature style of execution in these paintings.

— NISHANT CHOPRA

ArT


hIgh tIde: IntervIew wIth Arjun MAllik

Q. When and how did your journey towards Art begin?

A. I started when i was 6. Coimbatore being my native place, I visited my grandmother often at Coimbatore. The calendars back then had depictions of God/Goddess in various art forms. That motivated me to start drawing. My grandmother introduced me to an Artist who stayed close by. He sketched my first portrait. Things started off from there.

Q. How was your schooling and what did you take up later?

A. My schooling was a torture. I studied in Chennai. I used to wait for my holidays, every season. I got back to Coimbatore at every given chance and learnt new art forms from my art teacher. After going through the nightmares at school, I did a 3-years Diploma in Textile Designing at Govt College of Arts and Craft. Later on, I moved to LA Salle College of Art and Design at Singapore and studied Animation Background in 1997. I was very particular in doing something related to art.

Q. When was your first show?

A. My first solo show was in 1999 at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai. It was received very well.

Q. So, how did you manage to enter the Savannah College in USA?

A. After my first show in 1999, I happened to bump into

Photo Courtesy: Thamizhthambi


people from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) while having a cup of coffee with a friend of mine at the hotel Park Sheraton. They had come down from USA to recruit some talented students. Unfortunately, I wasn’t carrying my portfolio. So, I immediately drew a portrait of one of the members from Savannah College and gave it to him. having gained a good impression, he called me back the next day. I took 30 paintings of mine. On liking my work, he offered me half scholarship at SCAD.

Q. Tell us more about your life in USA and your art work.

A. My very first show at Savannah was in 2001. The theme was Gospel and it was again received well. I choose my show only on January 24th every year in honour of my grandmother! She is the only person in my family who accepted me as an artist. I had

my second solo show inside SCAD campus again in 2002. In 2003, I got an opportunity to be a part of a group show. It was a senior seminar show.

Thanks to Savannah, I also showed my paintings at Atlanta in 2005. I completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at SCAD in 2007.

Q. Who has been your mentor or inspiration?

A. Alphonso Arul Doss is more like my father. he is my source of inspiration. Every time I am down, he picks me up. I am very lucky to have such an artist

as my guru.

Q. How would you compare the art market in India and art market in USA?

A. Obviously, the art market in the USA is well established and encouraged. But, off late the market has gone down a little due to the economic crisis. Art in India is growing. New galleries like Art houz by A.P. Shreethar, give the artists the opportunity to showcase their collection.

Q. Do you have a unique style?

A. I would be lying, if I say I have one. I am still growing and learning as an artist. I get inspired to do something new every day.

The Brew

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