Sangeetha Choodamani conferred on thavil maestro

People of Tamil Nadu deserve special appreciation for they always rise above linguistic considerations when it comes to patronising music, Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan said on Saturday. Presenting Sangeetha Choodamani award of the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha to thavil player Aridwaramangalam A.K. Palanivel, the minister said Thanjavur, the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, was also the cradle of art, culture and music because of the presence of innumerable temples. “There temples were spaces where music flourished, especially nagasawaram and thavil,” he said, adding that Mr Palanivel was responsible for securing a primary place for thavil in the field of music, though it was an accompanying instrument. Mr Palanivel said many years of accompanying many great nagaswaram players and playing along with equally brilliant thvail players had helped him evolve a unique style. While the grammar of music is important, I always keep in mind the expectations of the audience. One can excel only if one's hands are able to produce what one's brain is thinking. This can be possible only if a student fully enjoys the blessings of his teacher,” he said. Nagaswaram player S.R.D. Vaidhyanathan said though there were great thavil players, Mr Palanivel outshone all of them through his mastery and the commitment to excel. “He can play four avarthanams in thoppi itself,” he said. The award for Mr Palanivel included a gold medal, a citation and Rs one lakh cash. It is sponsored by P. Vijayakumar Reddy and Ms Preetha Reddy in memory of Sri Obul Reddy. The award ceremony marks the inauguration of the 24 Pongal Nagaswara Festival of the Sabha. Vocalist T.N. Seshagoplan, music writer Manna N. Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director of City Union Bank N. Kamakodi, Sabha president Nalli Kuppusamy Chettiar and general secretary Y. Prabhu participated.