Ganesh and Kumaresh: The Dynamic duo

Not just musically, but by being such an endearing andever-smiling duo. Amidst all the crackles and laughter, they got talking aboutraga pravaham, a form of music they have introduced this Margazhi. “Over aperiod of time, we started feeling our music was becoming complacent. It wasbecoming lyric-centric,” begins Ganesh, explaining how musicians eitherplay or sing songs that have existed for over three hundred years. “Thesongs are recreated and reproduced by every artsite. Instruments are used moreto support than complement a dance or a vocal concert,” says Kumaresh.Hence, raga pravaham — music without lyrics — was born. “It isa form by itself keeping in mind the essentials like ragams and thalams. Thedefinition of the composition remains intact, but the inspirations and creativeexchanges change with every concert,” they say.Thejourney so far: Ganesh is my anna, guru and partner. We’ve been playingtogether for forty years. We have fought, argued and achieved during thisjourney. He raises the bar of the performance with every concert. We’veset goals without our knowledge and have taken baby steps to reach them.Fond memory: Just before my wedding, we had arranged for a VaikuntaSamaradhanai at home. I stepped out with my friends the previous night andreturned only by 3 am. Ganesh woke me up at around 7 am and without gettinghassled, asked me to quickly join the proceedings. I went there and was verysurprised at how well he had arranged the entire puja. I actually went up tohim, gave him a hug and a peck on his cheek! He has always saved me from beingquestioned by my parents on my escapades. Traits you admire: He is adisciplinarian and is truly inspired. I admire these qualities but I choose toleave it at that. I can’t imbibe those qualities.Giftsexchanged: He bought me my first bike when I was still a minor. My fatherrefused to buy me one but Ganesh gave me a cheque and said, ‘Goahead!’The journey so far: I wouldn’t have been able toachieve so much if not for Kumaresh. We have had times in the absence of theother; we have practised the same songs, same sangathis, spoken to ourrespective wives about similar issues and such. We have very few things incommon, the most important thing being our surrender to MahaPeriyava.Fond memory: The year was 1977. We had just begunperforming . It was the time when television was creeping into our lives. Weasked our father to buy us one and he refused, stating that it might distract usfrom our practice sessions. He asked us to earn and buy one ourselves. A fewdays later, after a concert in Appar Swamy Koil, an old man walked up to thestage and left us five rupees. Soon after, the entire crowd came forward andstarted giving us money! We promptly bought a television. Traits youadmire: Kumaresh is fearless. He is always game to do anything. He is up to faceany challenge at any given time. Gifts exchanged: When I got upin the morning one fine day some years ago, there was a knock on the door and Iwas surprised to see a huge gift-wrapped box that read ‘HappyBirthday’. It was a designer kurta that my brother had gifted me. It wasonly after seeing it that I realised that it was my birthday! Follow us on Twitter for more stories