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 The sound of music lured me to unravel our
priceless treasure - music - states this multi-faceted
personality who imparts music through a popular TV channel.
Blessed with a ringing voice and fluency in
communication, he has proved that art is a vehicle of essential
knowledge. He brings the magic of music in his inimitable style.
Neyveli Santhanagopalan is the musician I am
referring to. Scion of a great musical family, his first guru
was his mother Jayalakshmi Ammal.
The musically pervasive atmosphere at home made him swim in
the ocean of nadam and layam. His initial training under Chembai
Anantharama Bhagavathar and Srirangam Sri Ranganathan made him
understand music in all its dimensions. His arangetram in Kerala
Kala Samajam in Neyveli showcased his prodigious talent.
An admirer of Maharajapuram Santhanam, Santhanagopalan imbibed
the intricacies of music under his tutelage. The maestro from
Madurai, T N Seshagopalan, took him under his wings and
channelised his potentials. In his gurukulavasam under
Seshagopalan, Santhanagopalan learnt that sangitam and sahityam
are identical twins.
“Tanjore Sankara Iyer and Vellore Ramabhadran are my manaseeka
gurus who have made me look into the past, live in the present
and search for more in music,” states Santhangopalan.
A true nadopasaka, he feels that nadopasana is the best way to
realise the divine. Music is not for the cerebrum but for the
soul and rigorous practice is essential to make a mark, opines
this international guru. He is able to convey the entire gamut
of human emotions musically which has made him a crowd-puller. Santhanagopalan combines erudition and devotion and straddles
the orthodox and modern milieu with élan.
He has assiduously enlarged his repertoire to keep the audience
engrossed. He has gained proficiency in playing the veena and
percussion instruments. A renowned guru, his Chandrasekara Guru
Kripa is a music factory for budding artistes. A professional to
the hilt, he has given performances all over India and the
globe.
 He is a recipient of several awards and titles and is gifted
with a fine sense of humour. He recalls how a person from
Coimbatore mistook him for an astrologer. “Since I was teaching
Navagraha kritis on a TV channel, that person from Coimbatore,
after viewing my programme, thought I was an astrologer and
landed in my house with his daughter’s horoscope seeking some
clarification regarding the planetary position in the
horoscope,” recalls Santhangopalan in a lighter vein.
He blends sampradaya with creativity by conducting lec/dem, and
workshops. A devout person, he reminiscences his association
with the sage of Kanchi, who is his idol.
His wife Meera is also a musician and is a perfect foil to him.
His children are rising stars on the musical horizon. Since
Carnatic music is a majestic vehicle of Indian classicism, it is
in the hands of youngsters to preserve, nurture and cherish it,
opines Santhanagopalan.
Santhanagopalan can be contacted at:
neyveli@indiamusicinfo.com
Mira
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