Venkat Raman –
In an era where the Hindi film industry is thoughtlessly christened ‘Bollywood,’ which in turn is fallaciously considered as ‘Indian culture,’ it is heartening to note a growing number of youngsters subscribing to and promoting the real thing.
One such member of our community is 19-year-old Pavan Mani, who is set to perform at his Arangetram in Chennai on December 2, 2015. His concert comes close to the annual Season (December 15, 2015 to January 1, 2016) of the Chennai Music Academy.
Pavan is a source of endearment not only to his parents Mani Narayanaswamy (who is the sitting President of the New Zealand Carnatic Society) and Leena but also to his first Guru Padma Govardhan and Professor S R Janakiraman, who accorded advanced music training, his peers and thousands of aspirants on both sides of the Tasman.
Early captivity
A sophomore at the University of Auckland (graduate course in Science- BSc- in Bio Medical Sciences), Pavan has had music in his ears, heart and mind since his formative years. Paternal encouragement was instant and natural, encouraged by which he commenced formal learning under Mrs Govardhan.
“Stalwarts M D Ramanathan and Balamurali Krishna were among my early inspirers but it was Mrs Govardhan who ignited the passion for music in me and enhanced my love for Carnatic Music. She nurtured and encouraged me to learn music with respect and sincerity,” he said.
The power of his music and the prowess of repository came to the fore when he earned the ‘Gana Visharad Diploma in Vocal Music’ awarded by the Auckland based New Zealand Carnatic Society in 2010.
He was only 14 years of age then and was the first male graduate of the Society.
A year later (2011), Pavan obtained the ‘Isai Mani Diploma,’ in Vocal Music through the London based Academy of Fine Arts, after completing seven grades.
Tribute to Master
It was thereafter that Pavan came under the tutelage of Professor Janakiraman.
Says Mr Narayanaswamy: Professor SRJ, as he is lovingly addressed in music circles, belongs to the ear of music that had a golden grandeur steeped in tradition and followed the Guru-Shishya Parampara (Teacher-Student Tradition). His teaching style and music hold the philosophy that in addition to basic music skill, a religious education in Carnatic Music must seek to impart a high degree of musical culture and taste in a student. He is a strict disciplinarian and embodying the old school tradition of the pursuit of perfection through practice. Therefore, in accordance with this philosophy, he has, since then, inculcated in Pavan, music aesthetics and fundamentals of Carnatic music that go far beyond just learning a repertoire of songs and ragas. As a Guru, he strives to make his students a complete musician of sound theory and practice through who composers and their compositions can come alive.”
SRJ, whose contributions to music and musicology dates back 50 years, has been fortunate to have received training from some the well-known musicians including Tiger Varadachari, Musiri Subramanya Iyer, Thanjavur Brinda, Tiruppambaram Swaminatha Pillai (Vocal), Kalpakam Swaminathan (Veena) and P Sambamoorthy and Balakrishna Ayya (Musicology).
Diverse interests
Pavan is also pursuing training in Carnatic Violin under the coaching of Dr Ashok Malur, the most popular violinist of Auckland, and Western Piano under Olga Tarasenko, a Voice and Piano trainer, whose credentials include the New Zealand Opera.
As well as performing at cultural programmes organised by Indian organisations, he has performed at fundraising events organised by Temples and charitable organisations in Auckland, Hamilton and other cities in New Zealand.
Other Interests
Pavan evinces keen interest in sports, and is involved in Premier Cricket as an All Rounder and Opening Batsman, in Soccer during his school years.
He has also received formal training in Shotokan, a pure form of Karate, holding a Third Degree Brown Belt. He has won a number of top prizes in County and Interclub contests.
