The melodious compositions of M S Baburaj have always mesmerised music lovers, irrespective of socio-cultural barriers. Now, there is something more for music buffs to cheer about; an opportunity to hear those eternal musical creations through sitar.
Kozhikode-based sitarist Vinod Sankaran will present 10 songs of Baburaj, including ‘Surumayezhuthiya mizhikale’ in kozhikode soon. A leading sitarist of Kochi-based ‘Sawal Jawab’, Vinod says this is a first-of-its- kind attempt to play Baburaj’s tunes through sitar without vocal.
“Lyrics and music are equally important in Baburaj’s songs. But I am trying to find the magic of his music. It should be a different experience,” says Vinod. Bansuri, tabala and harmonium will also be used as supporting elements.
Born at Paimpra, a village near Kozhikode, Vinod’s attraction to the stringed instruments began at an early age. “During school days I started practising guitar. After pre-degree, I joined the Swathi Thirunal Music College in Thiruvananthapuram, for the Ganabushanam course in veena. But soon I became interested in Hindustani music and discontinued the Ganabhushanam course and joined the M S University in Baroda. It was the turning point in my life,” he recollects.
After getting a degree in sitar, Vinod started practising sitar under A S Pathan, one of the faculty members of the university. He soon began assisting Pathan for his concerts across North India and this way he could gather much experience.
“Hindustani music is much more flexible than Carnatic music. There is a lot of space for emotions,” adds the 46-year-old singer, who later returned to Kerala and began ‘Sawal Jawab’, exclusively for ghazal and jugalbandhi on instruments, back in 2004.
And why Kochi? “There is more audience for sitar performances in many places in Kochi, especially in the Mattancherry region, rather than in Kozhikode, though the latter has the reputation of supporting Hindustani music,’’ he says. In 2008, Vinod released an album, ‘Conversations,’ in which he portrayed musical conversations between sitar and tabala.
“There was a good response for my work and I even got the opportunity to work in documentary films too,’’ he says. “In Kerala, the audience is not familiar with sitar. But, nowadays it is getting more acceptance from the public,’’ he adds. After the 10-song tribute to Baburaj, Vinod Sankaran is planning to do a presentation on ‘Mazahyude Naanartham,’ the famous poem of K Satchidanandan, through sitar, in Mekhamalhar raga with vocal. “Hopefully, these two projects will be a gift to music lovers,” adds Vinod.