Mastering both rhythmically intensive and structured Carnatic classical music and Persian music influenced Hindustani Classical music is not an easy task. Here is a music maestro, Dr T V Gopalakrishnan, popularly known as Guruji, who has mastered the varying styles of both Hindustani and Carnatic music. This 80-year-old musician is not only a vocalist, but also a Mridangam maestro who has accompanied leading artistes around the globe. This artiste has also performed both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music with the country's top accompanists.
Being a renowned singer and performing artiste himself, he has spotted prodigies at a very young age and brought them into the limelight. In short, Guruji is an architect of Indian classical music. Some of his disciples who have achieved glory in the world of music includes Kadri Gopalnath, Saxophone maestro; V Suresh, Ghatam artiste; Illayaraja, music director and composer; A R Rahman, acclaimed music director in Indian Film industry; Shivamani, drummer and Vidyabhushana, vocalist to name a few.
When City Express interacted with Kadri Gopalnath and V Suresh, they spoke at length about Guruji's contribution to Indian classical music and their experience as his disciples.
Explaining about his journey as a disciple under TVG, Kadri Gopalnath said, “I met Guruji for the first time in Guruvayur temple when I was performing at a function. Noticing my talent, he accepted me as his student.” He added, “I could never stand up to his expectations in the initial days, but I knew I had the talent to grasp what was taught to me.”
Besides shaping his students’ career, the maestro has also promoted them and nurtured their talent at every step. Recalling his memorable experiences with Guruji, Kadri Gopalnath told us about his concert that TVG had organised. “In that concert, Guruji was sitting right in front of me in the audience. I tried to give my best but I didn't get any appreciation from the audience almost until the end of the concert. Then, Guruji came up and whispered that I would not survive in the industry if I didn’t perform well.
At the same time, one among the audience asked me to elaborate the Mohana Raga. I applied what I adopted, learnt and listened over the years. After the concert, Guruji was the first one to pat my back as a token of appreciation."
On the other hand, nurturing talent also turned to be a bane many a times. “There were many incidents of betrayal, yet he would not stop being enthusiastic. There are many established performers today, who during numerous informal sessions had been corrected and moulded to give their best with ease and elegance. TVG sir always did that out of pleasure and never claimed recognition," added V Suresh.
Guruji believes that the sole purpose of his existence is music. According to him, every student must have in-depth learning to achieve great heights. He said, “After I became a professional, I felt that I had a major role to play as a teacher. Today, I am proud of my students. But my quest for the talent hunt has still not ended."
Guruji is also the original innovator of Indian jazz and has had the company of internationally acclaimed Jazz musician John Handy and Pierre Favre among others.
The living legend of Indian Classical music, Guruji is a recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award, Sangeet Natak Academy National Award from the President of India in 1991, Mridanga Kalaa Siromani - Palghat Mani Iyer Award, Sangeetha Kala Nipuna by The Mylapore Fine Arts Club to name a few. His contribution to Karnataka by exploring the different nuances of Dasara Pada is immense.
Speaking about the same, V Suresh said, “Even from 60s and 70s, Guruji had deep interest in learning, tuning and singing Dasa Sahityas. I have heard from his senior disciples, how he would collect old books and scripts in Kannada and Telugu to add to his repertoire even while being extremely busy with concerts. In my three decade association with him, I have found that even today he tunes newly found Dasara Padagalu in interesting ragas and teaches them meticulously to students. He can speak chaste Kannada which he acquired by sheer love for the language.”
The music wizard also has concern towards social issues. In order to raise funds for the Gujarat earthquake victims, he performed at Global Fusion Concert at Portland in 2002. According to Guruji, a musician’s duty does not stop with entertaining music connoisseurs. “Many of his fusion concerts bear the title of harmony, togetherness and brotherhood. He always includes songs on nature, love and national integration in the repertoire. He loves to spend time in the garden and he promotes his disciples to follow his path,” added Suresh.