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 To explore the myriad streams of fine arts is impossible, you say? Not for Rama Ravi who has straddled vocal, veena, mridangam and Bharatanatyam with élan.
A product of the renowned Kalakshetra, she has imbibed the best classical tradition. “I have settled down as a vocalist and my association with Rukmini Devi – Athai - will be etched in my memory forever,” declares Rama poignantly.
“I have taken part in ballets in Kalakshetra,” states Rama, capturing her golden days at the temple of learning.
Her initial training under her mother Thulasi Subramaniam made her absorb and understand music.
She fondly captures her musical odyssey there where she assimilated the monumental music of the titans – M D Ramanathan, Budalaur Krishnamurthi Sastrigal, Mysore Vasudevacharya, T K Ramaswamy Iyengar, and D K Jayaraman. “Budalur Krishnamurthi Sastrigal used to make me sing the varisais in six speeds which made explore their subtle nuances.”
Rama’s tutelage under Mysore Vasudevacharyar gave a new direction to her art with her individual bani and genre of music.
Rama’s stint at Madras University made her obtain a Master’s degree in music. Her thesis on ‘Graces in South Indian Music – Gamakas’ for M.Litt, created ripples in the music fraternity. T Vishwanathan, an eminent flautist scion of the Dhanammal dynasty, was her guide.
Padams and Javalis are synonymous with Brinda and
Mukta who are torchbearers of the Dhanammal tradition and Rama’s tutelage under them added to her repertoire. Though they drip in melody, one cannot render them in public because of their meaning,” declares
Rama.
 Since music and dance complement each other, her versatility in both has made a true representative of a proud tradition. She is well-versed in playing the veena also. Her depth of knowledge is perceptible as she learnt the king of instruments,
mridangam.
A performer for more than three decades, she owes her success to the rigorous training and asura sadhakam. A walking encyclopedia of music, she thought it unjust to ignore Hindustani music. Her foray into that stream under Pt Vinay Chandra Maudagalaya of Gandharva Vidyalaya, New Delhi, was a different experience. She earned a distinction in Visharadh which she cherishes till date. Adept at both Carnatic and Hindustani, she is careful not to mix them while performing.
Rama is a repository of knowledge and has received several awards and has proved her mettle by presenting many papers in conferences and seminars.
A meticulous learner and a dedicated guru, she feels that physical fitness and practice is vital for an artiste.
Her daughter Nandita is also a good vocalist. Highly disciplined and professional to the core, she has combined the best of tradition and modernity.
Mira
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