Singer RK Padmanabh turns 75

Entering RK Padmanabha’s home is like entering a museum of music. Books, albums, instruments and sound systems share the space with photographs and awards that the maestro has received over the years. “I wanted a sacred space to enjoy music. My practice sessions and bonding with students happen here with the blessings of Maa Saraswati,” says the Carnatic singer.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner Padmanabha or RKP, as he is fondly known in the music world, turns 75 this week. His impeccable range belies his age and he rarely uses the mike at small concert venues, say senior students who travel with him.

call of the soul

Born in 1949, RKP has been singing for 70 years now. “I was born in Rudrapatna, a small village on the banks of the Cauvery river in Arkalgud taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka; this village holds the record for producing the highest number of Carnatic musicians in the country. I was not born in a musical family, but the soil and air of Rudrapatna are filled with musical vibes, which gave birth to music in me,” he says.

RKP says that by the time he was five, he had heard the top musicians of the time in Rang-geet (musical theatre). He credits his deep range to this early experience where open-throated singing was encouraged. “I even played the role of Karna when I had to sing the poems of Kumar Vyasa during training sessions under the iconic gamaki, Vasantha Lakshamma,” he recalls.

He tells how the scholar and veteran R.V. Srikantiah, a genius, used to mesmerise connoisseurs with old Carnatic classical tunes informally on the streets of Rudrapatna.

Classical music stalwarts who visited Rudrapatna during concerts would sing in temples, in huge bungalows with 100 pillars and on the banks of the Cauvery. “It was customary to hold concerts at every festival. I was mesmerised by the music scholars, their silk clothes and their gestures while they sang. At the age of six, I remember waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of Violin Chowdiah – I was overwhelmed by his personality and musical aura,” says RKP, who pursued higher education in education and music in Mysore.

He eventually enrolled at Viola Chowdiah’s Ayyanar College of Music in Mysore, where he began formal training in Carnatic music. In his teens, RKP moved to Bangalore and completed his BSc from Vijaya College. He represented Karnataka in ball badminton and soon found a job in SBI.

However, it was in 1974 that he met the legendary HV Krishnamurthy at Vijaya College of Music and that was when he returned to music. “It felt magical. Thanks to HVK’s intensive training, I had my first concert in 1975.”

Multifaceted personality

Besides being a composer, lyricist and musician, Padmanabhan is also a writer, teacher and director. With 75 written works to his name, he has directed several musical plays, trained thousands of students across the world and has also acted in musical theatre. Even at the age of 75, he says, “I have a lot to do, and I want to see Bengaluru resonate with classical tunes. An important part of me spreading awareness is to keep it alive.” body rites (Swara-Sanskriti) – a paramount aspect for musicians.”

He sees my eyes wandering over the books and notes on his desk and says that while he worked on ‘Vadiraja’s Tirtha Prabandham’, in which he recorded lesser-known aspects of his pilgrimage to 10 sacred rivers in India, he got the inspiration to write on saints Shankara-Ramanuja-Madhava. “Vadirajaswamy blessed me with my pen and voice. I wanted to give back to society, so I built the Vadiraja Kala Bhavan near Hulimavu, where concerts were held.”

Singer RK Padmanabh receiving the National Award from President Murmu | Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement

RKP’s writings include five music-based novels as well as 750 compositions in Kannada, Sanskrit and Telugu. Navgrah Creations Besides writing 72 compositions in Kannada, he also composed music for them melakarta raga In Kannada,” he says.

Talking about what he enjoyed doing apart from writing his autobiography, RKP says researching the book was gratifying. Purandar Pitamahre, Where he highlighted the greatness of Purandaradasa and analyzed his contemplative talent.

“Do you know why Purandara Dasa would have preferred Mayamalavagowla instead of Karaharapriya for early learning? Karaharapriya, a musical scale popularised decades ago, has higher frequency levels Vowel experimentation and oscillations. What made Mayamalavagowla special was its flat tones, making it ideal for beginners. As a true patriarch, Purandara had the foresight to provide basic Carnatic lessons in Mayamalavagowla.

good governance

Apart from his musical ventures, RKP holds other important positions. As the managing trustee of the Rudrapatna Sangeetotsav Samiti Trust, he is responsible for the Music Village, an annual music festival that is now in its 22nd year. RKP is also overseeing the construction of the Sapteshwara Temple in Rudrapatna, which is themed on the seven musical notes and has a 70-feet tambura on its exterior.

For the past 20 years he has been the president of the Karnataka Ganakala Parishad, an association that promotes Karnataka musicians. RKP says the Parishad’s activities reach out to the rural areas of all districts and towns, where performances, schooling and workshops are organised to make everyone aware of classical music.

RKP will be felicitated on September 29 at 6 pm at Purandara Mandap, ISRO Layout. Entry is free.