"Soul stirring performance that reverberates in us much after
the concert is over" is how a recent review from South Africa
describes Veeramani Kannan's recital. Now, does that name ring
a bell? You are right! "Veeramani" Kannan is the son of the legendary
Kalaimamani "Veeramani", whose name finds special mention
in the history of devotional music.
Veeramani Kannan
is just 28 years old and is already taking the world of devotional
music by storm. Music is part of his lineage. Not only
was his father a musical legend, his mother is also a singer.
And his grandfather is the late Sri Koteeswara Iyer, a renowned
composer of Melakartha ragas in Carnatic music.
Kannan's formal
training in music started at the tender age of 7, and needless
to say that his first teacher was his father, Kalaimamani K. Veeramani.
Kannan continued his learning of classical music under Sri Sundararajan,
a Professor at the Delhi University and Smt S. Rajeswari, well-known
classical singer and an eminent professor in the music college
of Chennai.
Kannan is an expert
at playing the keyboard and the harmonium. He has a divine voice,
and excels in the field of devotional music; his passion for music
has led him to master bhajans, ghazals, and also classical and
film songs, old and new. He is a multi-lingual singer and is very
much at ease with Tamil, Hindi and Telugu songs. He sings English
songs too… A truly versatile personality!
Veeramani Kannan
has rendered several concerts in Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius,
Colombo, South Africa, and North India and in almost every major
city and village in South India.
On Maha Shivarathri,
Kannan performed non-stop in a 12-hour concert in Singapore. From
the moment he stepped first on the South African soil, he became
the idol of the audiences there and has performed 8 times in South
Africa. He has been the mainstay of many tours to South Africa
and Mauritius, and is the favourite at the Indian Academy of South
Africa. He has performed in 3 occasions in the much-acclaimed
St Thyagaraja Music Festival held in South Africa.
Kannan's voice
figures in around 80 albums. Over the past 2 years he has been
steadily surpassing himself as a music composer and director for
popular and well-known singers such as S.P. Balasubramaniam, Unni
Krishnan, Sudha Raghunathan, Unni Menon, Anuradha Sriram, Vani
Jayaram, Vijay Jesudas and Shobana (Mahanidhi), to name a few.
In the role of a music director, he has 90 recordings to his credit
that were very well received. He has also scored music for the
legendary singer, Pithukuli Murugadas. And is working with Dr
K. J. Jesudas for a new project on Lord Ayyappa.
His most amazing
quality is his ability to compose both music and lyrics within
a few seconds and at very short notice.
The versatility
of his performance leaves thousands of fans dazzled as Kannan's
programme includes devotional, classical, semi-classical, bhajans,
modern day film hits, golden oldies, fusion and western pieces
and a few English songs too. Is there anything else left -- one
wonders!
His most recent
accomplishment has been a special instrumental recording: "Something
Special", specially compiled and produced for the Indian Academy
of South Africa, as well as a recording of Thevaram and Thiruvacagam
titled "Shiva Moksham."
Kannan is perhaps
one of India's prominent vocalists in both Mauritius and South
Africa. He has many titles to his credit, including BHAKTHI
ISAI THENDRAL; INNISAI ILAVAL; IRAI ISAI PUYAL.
At this young age,
he has earned worldwide acclaim and recognition. During his tours
he makes it a point to find the time to pass on his skills and
knowledge as a singer/musician.
He is a very committed
artiste with the unstinted faith that Music is the Path to God,
and what better way than to practise this virtue himself. His
greatest attribute is that he is a one-man entertainer,
who requires just his keyboard as accompaniment and any of the
resident players to play the tabla. He is totally adaptable
to playing with artistes of the countries that he visits.
Having Veeramani
Kannan around has the additional advantage of having a sound
and technical assistant as well as assistant producer. He doubles
up as a cultural advisor too.
Not to stop with
all these laudable achievements, this wonderful performer who
touches hearts with his sublime ways, is able to direct and perform
all prayers and religious functions
Veeramani Kannan
is truly a magnetic and dynamic artiste. He had just returned
from a very successful tour of SA and Mauritius, leading a team
of 11 artistes, when the Nilacharal team approached him for the
interview. The review on his recent performance says, "He set
the stages alight with his heart-rending songs on various Divine
Forms and brought the roof down with his rendition of film songs."
On to the interview with
him:
* What prompted
you to switch from Science to Music? (Kannan is a graduate in
chemistry)
Actually I started learning Carnatic music when I was very young.
I used to accompany my father in his concerts - anyway, my wish
was to be a scientist. On my father's demise, my plans underwent
a change; I wanted to fulfill my father's promise to dedicate
himself to the world of music, and devotional music, in particular.
I was also drawn towards Sri Ilayaraja's music, which inspired
me to follow the music line.
* Your father
Thiru Veeramani was a legendary musician. How does it feel to
follow his footsteps?
I feel elated. Without my father, I am nothing, I am very proud
to get these accolades in the spiritual field of devotional music.
In all the temples and functions that I perform, they honour me
so much as my father's son. My ambition is to be worthy of him.
* Is there any
special care required for composing/singing devotional songs?
I don't think so. Devotional compositions always have this characteristic
of making music and tunes appear like a flash. We cannot take
any special care or work on that. It is only God's Grace that
grants that flow to us. And devotional songs require involvement
and wholehearted dedication. Only then will the audience become
involved in the performance. Our devotion must inspire the audience
to sing along with us. That is the best satisfaction we get in
concerts.
* Will
you sing for mainstream cinema, if opportunities come your way?
Yes, definitely; I am waiting for a good entry. I am already expecting
a call from Sri Harris Jeyaraj, Music Director. Cinema is a powerful
medium that can carry strong messages to the audience. But I do
not want to be confined to anything. I want to be like a departmental
store: Classical, Devotional, Bhajans, Ghazals, name the type
of song and name the language and I must be able to offer it.
I must be able to strike a musical chord in everyone.
* Among
your albums, which is your favourite?
This is a very embarrassing question; it is like asking a parent,
'which of your children do you love the most?' All the albums
are like my babies… which do I point out as my favourite? Every
one of my albums is dear to me… (he smiles and waits for the next
question to be asked … well….!)
* Please
share with us some of your cherished moments in this life of music.
Well… there are many happy moments. In South Africa there is a
youth team that attends all my shows, they dwell in Durban and
are all in the senior officer cadre. But they took one-month leave
just for attending my concerts; they travelled across the length
and breadth of South Africa wherever my concerts were held and
they also flew to Mauritius. It really thrilled me beyond words
to see these music enthusiasts. And another couple in Mauritius;
they have a 4 year old baby who eats only if he hears my songs
(they have CDs of my songs); and he sings all my devotional songs.
I am thankful to God for granting me this wonderful boon of singing
that has drawn such persons to me.
* What
are your plans for the forthcoming years of musical life?
I don't consider myself as having achieved enough to answer this
question…I am still a learner. Music is a vast ocean and I am
always seeking the pearls in that ocean. Anyway.. to answer this
question, my long term goal is to start a music school that imparts
free learning in vocal music and also instrumental music - - on
all instruments. I want to open a trust in my father's name for
helping engineering students and medical students who cannot afford
higher studies. I wish I could unite the world with my music.
The very mention
of Veeramani Kannan is enough to send to raptures, the Indian
Academy of South Africa, the Mauritius Tamil League (MRU) and
the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre (MRU) "He touches your
heart with his dedication, commitment, easy going and obliging
ways" is how the Indian Academy of South Africa describes "Veeramani"
Kannan. This legend in the making is doing his father proud with
his performance. Illustrating the saying in Tamil, 'Pulikku
pirandhathu poonaiyaaguma?' (The tiger does not
bear a mere cat!)
*****
