ARAVINTH KUMARASAMY
Jul
2001
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Singapore
based Aravinth Kumarasamy is a versatile artist. He is a computer specialist,
plays the veena and was a Bharatantyam dancer in his younger days. This
knowledge enables him to accompany dance with a special understanding.
He learnt veena from Mrs. Kalpagam Swaminathan while she was at the University
of Madras. He learnt dance from Vazhuvoor Ramiyah Pillai and had his arangetram
in 1994 when he was conferred the title ‘Nrithya Vaarithi’ by his guru.
Aravinth has become an integral part of Apsaras Dance Company and is fully
involved with music compositions and dance choreography. |
You
are so busy, doing so many different things…….
There was
an article ‘6 faces of Aravinth’ in Citizen magazine of Singapore.
It has 6 shots of me doing various things like playing the veena, choreographing,
composing, doing nattuvangam, conducting music and as a computer software
engineer. They mixed it into 1 frame wherein each face is looking
at the other- like a group picture. I guess that sums me up.
What are
your most recent endeavors on the music front?
The Kolam-
Ayer Indian Youth Ensemble is the one and only Indian youth orchestra in
Singapore and the members are between the ages of 15 –22, mostly secondary
school and university students who are pursuing the arts, medicines or
engineering. We started it in April 1999. We have vocal, veena, sitar,
flute, violin, mridangam, ghatam, ganjeera, tabla, pakhwaj and edakka players.
We do not teach. The students learn from various gurus and come to us to
learn a piece and perform. |
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Last year we did
our first full-length debut concert ‘Jananam’ in which one of the items
was a fusion piece where a Chinese and Malay youth orchestra also joined.
Another highlight was a medley of Carnatic compositions by various composers
in the 4 South Indian languages. It was arranged and orchestrated
by me. Last year in London, I put together an orchestra for a performance
called ‘Nadanjali’. Artists who played all instruments of South Indian
Carnatic music came together for this performance. Highlight of that was
my composition Rituragatarangini illustrating the 6 seasons.
What are
your recent compositions for dance?
Last year,
I composed for ‘Arupadai’ – a dance drama by Apsaras Arts. It’s different
in the sense that all the 6 stories of Muruga were put together in the
production and new lyrics as well as well-known compositions were used.
This was performed twice in Singapore and once by special request by the
President and this year the production will tour Australia. I did
research on Kandapuranam, the various works on Muruga to come up with the
concept, in which I worked closely with writer Va Ve Su (V V Subramaniam).
Another was
a composition and nattuvangam for Lingalayam Dance Company called ‘Nithya
Sumangali’ – the story of the devadasis or temple dancers. It was
well received as a repeat 7 day performance in Sydney and has been performed
twice again on popular request. We came up with a story line based
on the research conducted by dancer/choreographer Anandavalli and myself.
It deals with the lives of the temple dancers of yesteryears.
Another’s a
contemporary story called ‘Serpent Woman’, which deals with the subject
of human personalities based on a fictitious story for which I have composed
traditional music based on Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. A contemporary
story but danced in a traditional style.
In the non-lyrical
‘Surya’, I did the concept, music, conducted and arranged the orchestra.
It deals with various aspects of the sun based on Hindu mythology and folklore.
For this the Singapore Indian Orchestra performed. The dance was
choreographed in various styles including contemporary by People’s Association
Indian Dance Company.
What about
your forthcoming projects?
I’m working
on releasing my new album, which is targeted towards people uninitiated
in Indian ragas. This is part of my Young Artist Award, which I received
2 years ago. It is as yet untitled.I’m working on the concept and music
for a dance drama based on a Japanese story for Kannagi India Dance Company
of Tokyo. For a Lingalayam dance production, which is based on the life
of Madhavi and her daughter Manimekalai (post – Silappadikaram), I’m doing
the research as well as composing music for it.
We are working
on a show for Singapore TV. It is somewhat like Saptaswara music show in
Sun TV or Sa Re Ga Ma on Z TV, but it is based on classical music. I am
doing the research and writing for it. Other than the competitive aspect,
it aims at infotainment on Indian music. These assignments apart, I’ve
been very busy firming up cultural ties with Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines,
Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore for the Sruti Foundation / SAMUDRI as
its Asia Pacific representative.
How seriously
is Indian classical music and dance treated in Singapore?
I feel we
take it more seriously in Singapore as we can’t take it for granted. We
have to ensure it has authenticity, yet have novelty. So we do lots of
research, take great pains for every production. This was acknowledged
by people we work with like Va Ve Su, Padma Subrahmanyam, Anita Ratnam
to name a few. We are exposed to lots of varied culture since Singapore
is a melting pot of pan – Asia and European influence. We have picked up
good tips from other international companies and learnt how to package
and present. This also applies to our lighting and set designs.
With so
much of varied activity, do you have any time at all to relax?!
I do not go
for parties, no holidays, no watching films. No family life…. that’s because
I am single! Since I travel a lot, I have a mini tape recorder. In the
plane, while waiting at airports, anywhere….if anything comes to mind,
I tape it immediately. I hardly sleep, that’s the net result!
Aravinth
Kumarasamy
12,
Jalan Tembusu
Singapore
438227
Ph:
(65) - 3467589
Fax:
(65) - 3457436
e-mail:
aravinth@symbols.com.sg
(As told to
LV)
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