Dub..dub..dub... I hear the constant tapping, even as the interview begins. His fingers and toes move involuntarily, like a man who’s consumed by a spirit. The tapping continues. No he doesn’t have Parkinson’s, not with the kind of complicated beats he plays. “That’s just how drummers are, we can’t stop tapping,” laughs Murali Krishnan, fondly known as Drums Murali.
Chennai-based ‘Drums Murali’ is one of India’s most sought after percussionists. His work for the Indian film Industry and his experiments and collaborations with eminent artistes from all over the globe have won him several accolades.
At the age of 10, Murali started playing the mridangam. He was so captivated by the rhythm that he started playing on any surface he could find, from boxes to rubber tyres. Every surface had a unique sound that blew his mind away. Today, his precious collection includes a variety of instruments from across the world, from the African Djembe to the Indian Khanjira including the Nigerian Udu, Latin Timbales, Congas, Middle Eastern Darabuka, Duffs, Korean Buk, Kerala Chanda, Thimila, Gongs and Cymbals.
Murali, who grew up listening to the ‘Chanda’ from Kerala believes that one’s ‘cultural background’ reflects one’s music. “The cultural metamorphosis of any region can be seen in its music. If you listen to my solos, you’ll hear beats that are unique to different parts of India,” says Murali, who conducted a master class at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music.
Having trained over 850 students across the age group of 5 to 85 through his institution Jus Drums — School of Percussion, he says, “I used to practice for six hours a day. There were no musicians in my family. I had to strive hard to make it to the top. Musicians represent a community and they have to work hard and maintain a good professional and personal life.” At Jus Drums, which is gearing up for its 14th Summer Camp this month, students are taught everything from the basics of drumming to the detailing of different beats, poly rhythms, cross rhythm, extensive rolls and solos.
The master trainer owes his classical knowledge to Padma Vibhushan Umayalpuram K Sivaraman and says it’s the discipline that keeps him going. Murali has also been running his Pop music group, ‘Symphony – The Music People’ and fusion band ‘Jus Fusion’ for over a decade now. His main influences are British Pete Locket, Ramesh Shotham and of course our very own Sivamani.
Drumming Diaries
•Solo performances and live shows
•Fusion music with Jus Fusion band
•Jugalbandis with classical musicians
•Collaborations with Folk drummers
•Theme-based drumming on innovative non-conventional objects
Reach out: Murali-09840046827