Mangalore: Violinist T G Gopalakrishnan - Taking Tulu Music to New Levels
 
Dayanand Kudupu
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RD/CN)
 
Mangalore, Sep 18: T G Gopalakrishnan is an internationally renowned violinist on par with the famed Kunnakudi Vaidyanatan and Lalgudi Jayaram.
 
He was born to T V Ganesh Ayyar FCA and Janaki in Ernakulam, Kerala, on September 10, 1944. Gopalakrishnan hailed from a musician’s family known for Lalitadas ancestors. He began his early debut in music by training with Ranganat Bhagavat during his schooling. He learned classical music from Chembai Vaidyanat Bhagavat and violin from Padmabhushan T N Krishnan.

Gopalakrishnan did his B Com and LLB and worked for a multi-national pharmaceutical company as deputy branch manager for 20 years. He took voluntary retirement in order to follow his passion for violin. He served as ‘A’ grade violinist at Akashavani centres in Chennai and Mangalore.

Gopalakrishna has presented ‘Jugalbandi’ programmes on Doordarshan and his variety of music was aired by Akashavani. The Jugalbandi programme that was presented by him along with his teacher Padmabhushan T B Krishnan in Ernakulam, had mesmerized the audience. ‘Waves’, the audio cassette and CD, presented by Gopalakrishna along with Rafiq Khan and other leading musicians, has refined and melodious music.
 
He has presented classical and light musical concerts besides contributing music to devotional singing in Akashavani and also composed music. Gopalkrishnan has composed music for audio cassettes and CDs by other musicians and enterprises. He has bagged different awards from both Kerala and Karnataka governments.
 
Gopalakrishnan’s favourite musicians are Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Papa Venkataramayya, Kumbhakonam Rajamanikam Pillai, Vedaranya Vedamurti, Madurai Mani Iyer, Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Ayyangar, Shemangudi Srinivas Iyer, Musiri Subramanya Iyer and others.
 
Gopalkrishnan’s depth of musical talent amazed his master Chembay Vaidyanat Bhagavat, when his maiden musical concert was held alongside with Chembay Vidyanath.
 
It’s rare a quality of Gopalakrishnan that he can tune the violin to ‘Gamak’ singing, and devotional singing by following the literature as is. He is a master at tuning his violin instantly for any devotional singing.
 
One of his special qualities is being a violinist to any graded musician. Gopalkrishnan even rectifies the lapses a key musician makes on stage. There are many musicians who abuse the artistes if any mistakes occur but Gopalakrishnan will rectify the mistake and encourage the artiste to better the performance. It’s due to this quality that many of up and coming artistes have risen to fame. He is also a master in playing the ‘mridangam’.
 
Gopalakrishnan’s experiment in Tulu devotional music:
 
He has promoted playback singers in the coastal district. Although his mother tongue is Malayalam, his musical sphere has extended to the whole nation. He has nurtured music in Kannada, Konkani, and Tulu, and features on the recently released CD of Tulu devotional music by singer Priyanka from Mangalore.
 
Daijiworld asked Gopalakrishnan about the CD of Tulu devotional music and he said, “Tulu litterateur Dr Vivek Rai told me about this new experiment. I have learned the inner meanings of Tulu music with the help of others. I have composed the music based on maternal love, Lord Krishna’s worship, and rhythm of singing. I have chosen varieties of rhythm, since most of the singing was devotional music, to rekindle divinity. Generally classical musicians who compose music know all aspects of it. It is difficult to direct the music for other’s literature.”

Some excerpts from an interview:

Daijiworld: Will Tulu music fit in classical music?
 
Gopalakrishnan: It’s not possible to adapt all Tulu songs into classical music. There are a few songs that fit in well. A few Tulu songs of Vamana Nandavar, Paltady Ramakrishna Achar, Venkataraj Punachittaya, and others can be easily adapted to classical music. I cannot recollect the names of all litterateurs, but I remember the beginning rhymes – ‘Aane moneda bale… Krishan tuyanade….’ Irrespective of language, if properly framed, it is easier to compose music.
 

Daijiworld: What’s your opinion of Tulu?

Gopalakrishnan: It’s indeed an ancient language that has not developed in the district administration. I heard that students were punished in schools for talking in Tulu in the past. Even now, both Tulu and Kannada languages are lacking recognition in private schools. English is essential for succeeding in business and employment. There are similarities in my mother tongue Malayalam and Tulu. We say ‘pooche’ and in Tulu it’s ‘pucche’. I have been living in Mangalore for the past 20 years; hence it’s not difficult for me to grasp Tulu in everyday life. I have composed music for a few Konkani songs. Konkani music has the influence of Goa. Tulu is making its strides already.
 

Daijiworld: You have been training singers?

Gopalakrishnan: The people who learn music do so for their mental bliss, but a few have short term goals who do not grow into professionals with the versatility to stage musical concerts. Mangaloreans are good natured; neither bother others nor wish to be bothered. I am living in a peaceful town.
 

Daijiworld: What are your future plans?

Gopalakrishnan: I have directed the music for several Tulu devotional songs on many occasions. Such music can be presented in CDs. I am hooked on to music; language does not restrict my interest. If these songs are presented in a CD, it will promote Tulu in its own way.