JOIN USPercussionist Sivamani feels that children are now more willing to learn instruments and pursue instrumental music as a career compared to his times. “I see lots of young children taking up music and playing musical instruments. They are so talented. Now, even parents are now encouraging them to take up instruments unlike my days when my father, S M Anandan always wanted me to study. He didn’t realise that I had rhythm in me,” confesses the player who is known for his mastery of drums in films like Roja, Rang De Basanti, Swades, Lagaan and Guru among others.
Though he plays octoban, darbuka, udukai, and kanjira, it was drums that fetched him recognition over the years. “I always felt I started with riyaaz in my mother’s womb and her heartbeat was my first track,” the 56-year-old tells Metrolife.
From Carnatic music maestros like Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan to renowned composers and singers M S Viswanathan, Illayaraja and A R Rahman, Sivamani has shared stage with numerous stalwarts. While he credits his success to ace drummers like Noel Grant and Billy Cobham, whom he listened to while growing up, he says that singer S P Balasubramaniam was the one who introduced him to the cinema field, and “he will always remain my godfather”.
Having performed with national and international figures, ask him with whom does he share the best chemistry? “Louiz Banks. He drives me crazy with his mastery over jazz and waltz music. He is an incredible composer,” Sivamani opines.
Referring to Banks, who is also known as ‘godfather of Indian jazz’ for his Indipop, modern progressive and contemporary jazz, and Indo-jazz fusion genres, Sivamani adds, “I get goosebumps with the kind of music that he produces; they are a gem. When we are producing music together, we don’t have any barriers. We both understand each other. Music is without boundaries for him and I really look forward to playing with him.”
Ask him his most cherished performances, and he is quick to reply, “It still is performing before former presidents Nelson Mandela (South Africa) and Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. I remember, after the concert, Kalam sir came on the stage and tried his hands at the drums.”
While he will be out with his new album along with his wife, Runa in December, this year, he is currently concentrating on his band Siraha Trio with U Rajesh (mandolin) and Harmeet Manseta (keyboards). “Bands allow you a space to do more and have limitless potential,” he mentions. Meanwhile, he is looking forward to perform alongside tabla player Fazal Qureshi and violinist Balabhaskar at HCL Concerts Mega Festival #TrueToOurRoots. “Fazal and Bala are great buddies and I will be with them after a long time. Playing with them is always interesting,” he says.
Catch Sivamani perform at NCUI Auditorium, (opposite Sirifort Auditorium), August Kranti Marg on September 11, at 7 pm.