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For mridangam exponent Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam, 2026 began with bully tidings — helium has been chosen for the Padma Shri, his Laya Madhuraa School of Music successful Chennai rings successful its 26th day this week, and helium completes 60 years arsenic a nonrecreational artiste.
“I person worked hard to get to this stage, and adjacent though I americium 70 years old, I consciousness I person to support improving myself. Recognition lone makes changeless signifier much imperative for artists,” says Bakthavathsalam, who received the Sangita Kalanidhi from The Music Academy successful 2021.
The mridangist, on with definite different veterans successful the field, has witnessed the advancement of percussionists from accompanists to being a captious portion of cross-cultural ensembles.
Born successful 1957 successful a clan of accepted musicians from Tiruvarur, Thanjavur district, Bakthavathsalam’s endowment was nurtured by the maternal broadside of his family. He underwent vocal euphony grooming nether his parent and noted vocalist T.R. Anandavalli, and yet started playing the mridangam nether the guidance and tutelage of his maternal uncle Tiruvarur Krishnamurthy.
“By the property of nine, I was accompanying my parent successful concerts. I had my formal arangetram erstwhile I was six oregon seven, astatine the Thiruvaiyaru Tyagaraja Utsavam. It was an breathtaking acquisition and I returned inspired,” helium says.
In the 1970s, aged 16, Bakthavathsalam migrated to Madras, attracted by its thriving classical euphony scene. “There were plentifulness of sabhas, with year-round concerts. I attended astatine slightest 1 recital a day, and made definite I listened to the stalwarts,” helium reminisces.
All India Radio (AIR) gave the young Bakthavathsalam a ‘double promotion’ from ‘B’ to ‘A’ grade, bypassing the ‘B high’ grade.
Though helium belongs to the Thanjavur benignant of playing, Bakthavathsalam has developed his ain variation. He is known for his energetic playing, and for embellishing niraval and kalpanaswaras.
Bakthavathsalam besides leads the euphony ensemble ‘Laya Madhura’ that includes the nagaswaram, violin and flute arsenic melodic instruments and the mridangam, kanjira, ghatam, morsing and tabla arsenic percussion. In 1992, the elder mridangist played astatine the opening ceremonial of the Olympic Games held successful Barcelona, Spain.
“I person trained implicit a 100 students successful the past 26 years done our school. I americium precise blessed to spot them turn arsenic artistes and teachers each implicit the world,” helium says.
At his location successful Chennai, the maestro keeps his 35 mridangams made with jackfruit wood from Panruti, successful 2 ample cupboards. “It is getting harder to marque instruments successful the aged benignant owed to a scarcity of earthy material. For instance, the leather vaaru utilized arsenic the mridangam’s braces, has present been replaced with nylon belts. I person a fewer mridangams that are implicit 50 years old. About 25 years ago, I bought capable mridangams to past maine the adjacent fewer decades. It is hard to support these instruments due to the fact that of their earthy components. Even though much lightweight alternatives are available, I similar to support excavation traditional,” says Bakthavathsalam.
Music and spirituality person shaped his life, helium says. “My parent introduced maine to the way of spirituality and it has anchored maine ever since.” For implicit 7 years, Bakthavathsalam besides served arsenic caput of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Mummoorthigal Jayanthi Vizha festival held annually astatine the Thyagarajaswamy Temple successful Tiruvarur, wherever galore artistes wage their tribute to the large composers.
“This portion is wherever Carnatic Music’s Trinity lived. I person legally added Tiruvarur to my name, due to the fact that I americium immensely arrogant to hail from this hallowed land,” helium says.
