Vazhapally R Krishnakumar: People now understand the value of ghatam

The video of ghatam artiste Vazhapally R Krishnakumar’s performance of the national anthem became popular online recently. The musician has been using his time during the lockdown to experiment with ghatam and has named his venture, Layanubhava. The series includes him playing Mallari, a piece of music usually performed in nadaswaram, and background score of Manichithrathazhu’s song Oru Murai... in the kunthalavarali ragam.While several artistes such as TH Vinayakaram, V Suresh and Sukanya Ramgopal have conducted concerts with ghatam as the main instrument across the country, Krishnakumar is one of the first to do the same in Kerala. “Violin and mridangam are the major accompaniment, ghatam, kanjira and mukharshanku are chosen after these instruments,” he says. “In 2017, my six students and I conducted the first ghatam concert in Kerala called Modam Mohanaghatanadam where we played ragas and keerthanas on the instrument.” The artiste is also involved in the project called Dhwani, a fusion performance with ghatam, mridangam, violin, idakka and flute. While its first edition was in anandabhairavi raga, the second that released on August 15 was in desh raga. “It became quite popular and we are now getting a lot of requests for virtual live shows through which we receive decent remuneration. It comes as a huge relief during these times,” says Krishnakumar, who is from Tripunithura.