T.V. Gopalakrishnan: Instead of cultivating a media image, spend time on yourself

Revisiting 75-year musical journey of the legendary musician T.V. Gopalakrishnan.

Mridangist, vocalist, violinist, PhD in music and guru to many, 92-year-old T.V. Gopalakrishnan (TVG) is an incredibly versatile musician. Speaking to him is like taking a nostalgic walk through over 75 years of music.

At age nine, TVG played the second mridangam for Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar at a wedding concert in Ernakulam. Chembai wanted TVG to move to Madras right away but TVG’s father insisted that he finish his B.Com degree first. “I arrived in Madras in 1951 with only Rs.100, a few clothes, my mridangam and sruti box,” he says. Chembai was an affectionate and nurturing guru who fostered TVG’s individuality whilst pointing out what to glean from other masters.

TVG joined the Accountant General’s (AG’s) Office, Madras, in 1952, and worked in the department for nine years, first for Madras State and later for Andhra, following the State split in 1953.

“One more year, and I would have got a lifelong pension,” he remarks.

At the inauguration of the Andhra AG’s office violinist Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu performed, and TVG accompanied him on the mridangam. “After the concert, he told me that I would be his choice, after Palani Subramania Pillai and Palghat Mani Iyer.”

TVG shared a special bond with Mani Iyer, who played the mridangam for 50-60 of his vocal concerts. “He himself offered to,” says TVG. “He would ask me what I was going to sing. I would, in turn, request him to suggest.” Today’s headliners do not expect co-artistes to be synchronised, he shares, recollecting how, in the past, many would insist on practising together.

Mani Iyer would tell him to practice songs a thousand times prior to performance. “Frequent repetition is essential for perfection, and for every note to adhere to sruti,” says TVG. He advises musicians to fret less about new repertoire and focus more on how they execute their music, particularly on understanding lyrics and proper word splits. “While freshness should be infused with a new piece or two, the repertoire should never be completely overhauled,” says TVG, who is also a trained Hindustani musician.