Satish Krishnamurthy, a multi-hued
personality started learning the art of Playing
Mridangam from Guru Vidwan T S Nandakumar. Coming from a family with a musical
background, Satish has always been deeply inclined towards the arts. He was
initiated into this art at a very young age by his parents. Sincere approach
with diligent learning for years under the keen tutelage and blessings of his reputed
Guru groomed him to be an artiste of high calibre.
Apart from mastering the art of
playing the Mridangam he also learnt to play and excel in other percussion
instruments like the Thavil , Kanjira , Ghatam and Moorsing from his renowned Guru.
Satish has imbibed in his
style, the fine tradition as passed on by his Guru. He enjoys a rich
traditional paathanthara by virtue of his training. His distinct style which
stands for undiluted classicism, reveals itself in his renditions.
Endowed with a rich bass voice, Satish uses it
to explore the profound melodies of Carnatic music. He has learnt the Classical Carnatic
Vocal music from Guru Shrimati Rukmini Shankar and Guru.Kalyani Sharma.
Currently Satish is pursuing a
Bachelors’ Degree in Music and Mridangam from the Annamalai University ,Chennai
Satish is also a graded artiste in
mridangam, ghatam and kanjira at the All India Radio,
one of India’s strongest upholders of classical music.
Works :
Satish started his career of
professional accompaniment by playing Mridangam in ‘Katcheries’ or musical
concerts, all over Mumbai and gradually expanded his horizon by accompanying
senior and well known artistes across the country
Later, he went on to accompany
Bharatanatyam dancers in live concerts and today he is the most sought after
percussionist in this field. His forte being a high perfection in Kalapramanam,
Jathi, Korvai renditions, understanding and following the intricate footwork of
the dancers to the minutest detail. He has accompanied Padamshri Hema Malini in
her live concerts and the Late Padma-Bhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra for a
jugalbandi. .
Satish has had the privilege
of accompanying highly accclaimed artistes like Shri O.S Thyagarajan, Shri Sharakaran
Namboodri, Padma Bhushan Dr. L Subramaniam, Padma Bhushan Sri T. N. Krishnan,
Padma Bhushan Dr N Rajam, Padmashri Dr N Ramani and several others.
He had the privilege of
accompanying well known artistes at the Pashaan Festival Pune, 2012.
Satish has broadened his
creative skills by experimenting on the fusion playing of the percussion
instruments by forming a Percussion Ensemble. He has formed his own group of
professional instrumental and percussion Artistes and leads them in Talavadya
Katcheris. Today his percussion ensemble has not only given several
performances but also won great applauds and acclaim for its uniqueness.
More than 1000 live
performances to his credit, Satish is also busy as a recording artist.
Satish has been performing
widely within and outside the country for several years and has toured
extensively in the Middle-East, France, Brazil, U.S.A, Norway, Belgium ,United
Kingdom and other European countries.
Apart from his concerts his
skill in presenting lecture – demonstrations has been well appreciated.
His regular performances is
many prestigious festivals like the ‘Celebrate Bandra Festival, Kalaghoda
Festival, Surya festival, Khajuraho Festival, Haridas Sammelan and Mysore
Dassera Festival to name a few, have earned him rave reviews by critics and
connoisseurs alike. Sabhas
like the Powai Fine Arts, Bhakti Kala Kshetra, Ayyappa Seva
Sangam, The Whistling Woods etc have often invited Satish to perform his
Talavadyam. He had the rare opportunity of holding a seminar and interactive
session to introduce Carnatic percussion to the college students of Dr.
Ambedkar College.
Performed the Talavadya at the
prestigious Parikrama Festival Pune, on the inaugural day.
Satish has also had the opportunity to assist the
famous Drummer Shri.Shivamani by playing south percussion for the movie “Before
the rains” directed by Shri. Santosh Sivan. He has also diversified his
creativity by composing music for a few Channel V promos. He has also composed
background score for several programmes one of them being the Hindi play
‘KARNA’, under the banner of Prithvi Theatre.
Actively connected with the
musical activities of the Prithvi Theatre and the National Centre for
Performing Arts – NCPA, his versatility is laudable with his ease at handling
Western and Fusion music too.
Satish regularly accompanies
many senior musicians on the mridangam at the All India Radio.
Rewards and Recognition :
Satish has been honoured with
several awards and recognition. To name a few
Title – ‘Taal Mani’ awarded
by Sur Singar Samsad,Mumbai.
Title – ‘Mridanga Vidwan’
awarded by the press and media ‘Aap ki Awaz’ channel.
Vellore Rambhadran Award for
Best Mridangam Artist.
Priyadarshani award
Certificate of Merit from Shri
Shanmukhananda,sabha of Fine arts.
Certificate of Merit from Gana
Kala Vidhya Nilayam
‘Mridanga Vidwan’ by the Press
and Media awrds.
Kalaratna by Noopur Academy
Pune.
Teachings
Satish is associated with the
Bharata College of Fine Art and Culture, Mumbai as a visiting Lecturer.
He conducts regular workshops
on Taalam and also imparts training to several young aspirants in the field of
Mridangam. The Prithvi Theatre organises summer workshops on percussion conducted
by Satish.
Quite a few outstation and
foreign students also avail of his teaching through web-classes. Every year in
the month of July, Satish is invited by organisations in France and Vienna to
conduct workshops from basic to advanced level.
His registered institute Swaralaya Sangeet
Vidyalaya, initiates, promotes and propagates budding talents in the Art to
professional standards of excellence thus passing down the cultural and
traditional richness of the Art.
Swaralaya has a Sound
Recording Studio and has released several classical music Cd’s under its
banner.
‘Ayyapa ke sharan mein’
featuring Shri Shivamani, Om namo narayana, Nasha to mention a few.
As an artiste, Satish
derives joy as a accompanying for both music and dance. His intense involvement
in both these streams gives him an added advantage and helps him present his
art with more feeling, awareness and aesthetic appeal.