“It’s in our blood,” mridangist Vinod Anoor smiles as I begin talking to him and his cousin and ganjira artiste Sunaad about why they’ve pursued careers in percussion. A minute later, I realise it’s somewhat of a no-brainer. Fifth-generation musicians and the children of percussionist-fathers, music chose these Bengaluru-based boys before they could choose it.
“We can't remember a day that the house hasn’t been filled with music. And that holds true even today,” says Sunaad. So the choice to pursue it professionally was an easy one for both.
“I knew that whatever I pursued academically shouldn’t come in the way of my pursuit of music,” Vinod says. A commerce graduate with a busy performance schedule, he was often joined on stage by Sunaad, a media student, strengthening a creative bond.
“On stage, we ensure that we stay in sync. Our main focus is to enjoy the experience and have a good time — the experience of each concert is what inspires the best in us,” Sunaad shares.
The camaraderie the cousins share with their contemporaries comes through in their performances as part of the percussion ensemble LayaLavanya, conceptualised by their Guru Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma. In their effort to look beyond the repertoire, they have experimented with a variety of genres. Their most recent venture? Kalarava.
Young percussionists Vinod and Sunaad
“Kalarava is a fusion band that focuses on world music,” says Sunaad. “Taking up challenges and learning from our time on stage is a must as artistes — we head home after every concert with new lessons,” adds Vinod.
Having dabbled in a host of projects, both classical and non-classical, they are gearing up for more exciting musical outings.
They feel the audience today are receptive of all good music and that creative minds should make the most of every opportunity.
“We want to enjoy what we do and share our love for music with listeners,” say the cousins.