THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Santoor is not a familiar participant in musical concerts in this part of the world. Taking this instrument inspired by Sufi traditions across the length and breadth of Kerala is Haridas Alankode, the only Malayali disciple of Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.
The evening of musical treat that Haridas offered to the city’s residents at Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan the other day, in the company of Tabla artist Satishbabu, was an experience to cherish.
“I was a student of Hindustani violin since 1981 for over 12 years. It later helped me find my style in Santoor,” says Haridas.
After beginning his music lessons in his hometown in Malappuram, under A P Bhargavan, Hari heeded the call of the rustic strains of the Hindustani instrument and headed to train under Shiv Kumar Sharma.
The rigorous lessons done, Hari returned to Kerala to try and blend the folk music of this faraway land with the exotic Sufiana tunes with which the instrument was familiar.
“Combining the classical music traditions of the South with the Hindustani lessons was a challenge I posed for myself. I have also tried to blend the folk music of Kerala in the rendering of Santoor on a very subtle note,” he explains.
Hari’s style of rendering is marked by a pronounced deviation from the traditions for these same reasons.
The explorations of native musical strains and the ease of Sufi music create a vibrant melody that is as soothing as it is arresting. The ‘Gayaki Ang’ style that he perfected on the violin brings its bearings on his rendering of Santoor, lending it an effortless flow that is often missed in string instruments.
Hari not only presents Santoor in the combination of Hindustani instruments like Tabla, but also does fusion concerts with Kerala’s traditional instruments like Edakka and Ghatam.
He has also scripted a unique combination of Santoor music and dance that he has named ‘Ragamadhavam’.
Hari has also presented jugalbandis, where he played Santoor along with Veena, Violin, Flute and Mohana Veena.
