KOCHI: “Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure” said Martin Luther. Mavelikara Nandakumar, the founder of Nandanam Symphony, Nandanam School of music and dance and Nandanam musical communications, Kochi, has been endorsing those words for the past 48 years. When his music school is celebrating its tenth year, Nandakumar gives us a glimpse of his musical journey.
Nandakumar’s tryst with music started at the age of 12 when he got a chance to learn ‘bhajans’ from a few folk musicians he stumbled upon in 1967. Within a year’s time young Nandakumar was doing stage programmes that grabbed enough attention in those days. By the time he was 21, Nandakumar was proficient in classical music as well as a few instruments. It was Chittoor Gopalan who taught him the first lessons of classical music. However, he had to join Cochin Shipyard for earning his daily bread.
“I was a member of Cochin Ragasudha, a music school for many years. In 2004, it dawned on me that I should do something new in the field of music. Thence, I started a music group with a few music junkies and was doing programmes across South India,” says Nandakumar.
Nandakumar who has conducted more than 500 shows at numerous venues in India, insists his music appeals to both younger and older generation.
“I don’t perform just to hear the cheering of the audience, but for the love of this artform,”says Nandakumar. Nandakumar’s contributions to music extends beyond his stage performances and music school. He had taken excerpts from Bhagavad Gita, which is in Sankrit, and composed it in Kapi raga.
His main motto behind setting up a music school was to do something good for the people. He was longing to make a significant contribution to the field of music in his own small way.
For him, constricting himself to the four walls of a shipyard was never an option.
“I was one among the shipyard employees who started a trade union and many such worker-benign-groups in the organisation,” says Nandakumar.
Today, Nandakumar owns three institutions that has around 60 students and 15 professionals as teachers. Students from the age of 4 to 60 study in these institutions. Musicians such as Vaikom Rathnasree, Chottanikkara Ajayakumar, RLV Athira Nair, Bitu Alappuzha and Nandakumar, himself teach at the institution. The music institutions that are registered under the Kerala Government, has the permission to follow the syllabus of Trinity College, London.
At present, Nandakumar is busy with the tenth anniversary of the institution, which he plans to conduct with much fanfare.
“I am planning to commemorate Mridangam exponent Padmashri Mavelikara Krishnankutty on the occasion. I consider him as my mentor and Guru,” says Nandakumar.
The institution located in Panambilly Nagar, Kochi also gives vocal training, special training for reality shows and lessons on music therapy and music yoga. Around 15 instruments are being taught here. He handpicks his students through a special selection procedure where he conducts interviews with the parents as well as the candidates. Once selected he readies them for the intense training process awaiting them.
“The syllabus and teaching methods are set according to the caliber of the students after discussing it thoroughly with the professionals. The students will be often exposed to various kinds of music that are not there in the syllabus to learn about world music,” says Nandakumar.
For Nandakumar music is equivalent to the ultimate divine power. Hence, it has the strength to influence the world and make it thrive in peace and prosperity.