The Indian Kanjira Master, V Selvaganesh, who is preparing to bring the entire music aficionados together for an extraordinary Carnatic musical voyage, speaks to The Pioneer about performing at the Aditya Birla Masters of Music, balancing traditional parts of classical music, and also shares some noteworthy moments from his career.
Shraddha Neware
V Selvaganesh, commonly known as the ‘Indian Kanjira Master’, is preparing to bring the entire music aficionados together for an extraordinary Carnatic musical voyage called ‘Masters of Music’. His work spans borders and elicits intense emotions anytime he performs onstage! And this show is going to do just that. Let’s learn more about what motivates the outstanding V Selvaganesh.
Excerpts from the interview:
In your opinion, what is the significance of having many generations of percussionists perform together at Aditya Birla ‘Masters of Music’?
It is critical that the next generation understands the concept of music and heritage, as well as how to approach it on stage. There will be three generations. One is my father, L Shankar Ji, from the fusion band Shakti, with whom we grew up. Then came the next generation, which included Fazal and I. We’ve performed in numerous performances together, and we were also a part of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s Masters Of Percussion. That is the one method we learned a lot about. And the third generation, my son, will accompany us. And for him to comprehend my father’s generation, the music they listened to, and myself and Fazal, how we dealt with everything, this is the most important lesson for that generation.
In what ways do you think the collab between various percussion types and global influences has improved the worldwide view of Indian classical music?
Collaborating with new genres of music is always a learning experience. When I used to play with Masters of Percussion with Ustad Zakir Hussain, he was always willing to take me to a different jamming session with a different type of percussion art, especially because they were so popular on Planet Drum. Zakir Bhai once took me to a jam session where I had a terrific time jamming with Mickey Hart and Giovanni, learning what is Latin, what is pop, and what is rock. Everything!
How has touring with John McLaughlin’s trio, influenced your musical development?
Playing with the band Shakti is the best experience. And it is always, as I have said before, a learning process. I couldn’t believe it when I was in fifth grade and they came to India on a tour. And they held a concert in Chennai, where Shakti performed alongside John McLaughlin, L Shankar, Ustad Zakir Hussain. My cousin and I were standing behind the stage while they did a soundcheck. I have no idea what music they played, but I was standing behind and enjoying the percussion section, where my father and Zakir Bhai engaged and played. I was liking it. I stated, “This is the music I wanted to do.” I couldn’t imagine.
Could you tell us more about your role in operating the Sri JGTV school?
Sri Jaya Ganesh Tala Vadya Vidyalaya is a school established by my grandfather in the 1960s. And then, of course, my father took over, followed by my uncle Subashchandran Ji, and eventually TH Gurumurthi. So we continue to administer the school, which is overseen by my brother, Uma Shankar. I’m now busy with a lot of concerts, but I also teach. We usually meet with students at least twice a month. We used to jam, but after three years of lockdown, I believe we were unable to do so. So I’m merely expanding my role in this schooling. We’ve already launched a lineup in America, followed by Japan. So my role is to push things to the next level.
How do you balance retaining the traditional parts of Carnatic music with contemporary influences?
It is not my responsibility to maintain Carnatic music; it has already been done. The only thing left to do is maintain. That is more significant. So, for me, music is more divine.
What encouraged you to pursue a profession in percussion?
My father influenced me. That is more significant. Every person’s primary role model is his or her father. And, of course, my father joined the band called Shakti. That was in the 1970s. So I was born and grew up with that music. My father used to tour in 1973 and 1974, and when he returned, he brought back the records from his tape-recorded, live recording. And then he used to play to my grandfather, as if it were the concert I had performed, and I began listening to it. It’s in my blood.
Can you talk about your approach to making music for films versus solo albums?
Composing for movies is like having a vision. You see and compose. You see the scenes. So you compose for that, particularly the background score. And for the songs, they have a situation where they say, ‘This is the way’, so the song has to fit in. It is already prepared. So it is not easy, and it is really difficult to do. Doing an album requires me to feel, be creative, and create my own vibe. So there is a difference. And composing is my passion! It’s like my yoga or meditation.
What challenges have you encountered when juggling your jobs?
Challenges are always present. Especially while performing in a concert, you must sense the audience’s attitude to know what they want. So, once again, it’s a problem for the performer. And being an educator is not a challenge; it is a learning experience. Even when I teach, I learn from them because they ask questions that my teacher did not ask me, which means that if the question is asked, I must answer it, which requires me to improvise. Music is usually like that. So, when I improvise, I learn.
Could you tell us about a noteworthy incident in your career?
I guess I joined Ustad Zakir Hussain Ji’s Masters of Percussion in the 90s, around 1992. So that was my first concert and my first time on stage with him. And I witnessed how he performed alone to get the audience involved. He constantly assigned them a role and encouraged them to participate in whatever it was. After that, I worked with them for nearly ten years, and anytime I played with him, he always changed; he always found the audience’s mood and went with it. That has been the most valuable experience for me to learn. That’s his presentation, and it’s the largest source of inspiration for me. As an artist, I should understand how to present, convey, and set the tone. Ustad Zakir Hussain has made me who I am today.
What advice would you provide to your target audience, aiming to build a name for themselves in the music industry?
The audience may expect 70s music from the best fusion band, which has paved the way for any collaboration music known as Shakti. So, we’ll be doing a bunch of Shakti pieces. And, of course, my father and Zakir bhai have done a number of albums, one of which is called Ragam Tanam Pallavi, and we’re going to perform one of those pieces.
