Kala Ramnath is an Indian classical violinist. She belongs to the Mewati gharana. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskar in 2016, Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman in 2008 and the Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar in 1999. KALA” her forename literally means “ART” in Sanskrit – That art, which manifests Happiness or God, “the Supreme Truth” Maestro Kala Ramnath belongs to a violin dynasty from India- a unique musical lineage of seven generations which straddles both the classical systems of the subcontinent.

15/06/2019
Kala Ramnath - violinist

1. Profile :

Born May 29
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Genres Hindustani classical music
Occupation(s) violinist
Instruments Violin

2. Introduction :

Kala Ramnath is an Indian classical violinist. She belongs to the Mewati gharana. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskar in 2016, Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman in 2008 and the Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar in 1999.

KALA” her forename literally means “ART” in Sanskrit – That art, which manifests Happiness or God, “the Supreme Truth”

Maestro Kala Ramnath belongs to a violin dynasty from India- a unique musical lineage of seven generations which straddles both the classical systems of the subcontinent.

3. Here are a few quotes on her :

“like an angel in human form. Just to watch her play is an extraordinary thing. She has this tremendously relaxed, sublime way of playing that draws you in immediately. She’s known for her incredibly lyrical playing. I’m always thrilled when I hear her play. She’s one of the greatest musicians on the planet.”

-Terry Riley in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2015

“If Mozart had been transported to the South Asian subcontinent this is what he and improvised Western classical music might have sounded like. This comparison is not thrown in to befuddle or impress. Kala Ramnath is a musician of giant-like qualities.”

-Ken Hunt in the Jazzwise magazine in 2004

“To write about one’s daughter and disciple is a very difficult proposition. All I can say is that I’m thankful to the Almighty that he has given me Kala, who with her immense talent and musical abilities is all set to carry forward my tradition and legacy – The torch bearer of the Mewati Gharana in the true sense of the word. ‘Kala’ means art and that too related to fine arts. She stands true to her name in every way.

-Legendary Indian Classical Vocalist and Kala’s Guru, Pandit Jasraj in 1998

4. Early life :

Kala Ramnath is the first child of Malathy and T.N. Mani in Chennai, India. Kala Ramnath was born into a family that includes violinists T. N. Krishnan and N. Rajam. Her father, T.N. Mani was known for his contributions to Indian film music.

At the age of two and a half, Kala Ramnath was initiated into violin and vocal training by her grandfather, Narayan Iyer. She represents the beginning of the seventh generation of violinists in her family. It has been said that her grandfather bribed her to practice by offering her sweets and candy.

She started performing from the age of 14 when her aunt presented her in concert.

For fifteen years she studied with the Mewati vocalist Jasraj.

5. Performing career :

Kala Ramnath has performed at all the major music festivals in India, as well as the most prestigious stages throughout the world, including the Sydney Opera House, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall to name a few.

She has forged musical alliances with artists of renown from different genres around the globe incorporating elements of Western classical, jazz, Flamenco and traditional African music.

Kala Ramnath is a sought after artist to work and experiment with orchestras such as the London Symphony and London Philharmonic. She has also worked with musicians including Kai Eckhart, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Terry Bozzio, Abbos Kossimov, Ayrto Moreira, Giovanni Hidalgo and rock legend Ray Manzarek of the Doors.

‘Raga Afrika’, ‘Global Conversation’ and recently ‘Elements’ are all bands Ramnath has founded along with her fellow world music artists.

Kala Ramnath also has been involved in the background score of the Hollywood films, notable among them being Blood Diamond working with composers like James Newton Howard and George Acogny.

6. Teaching career :

Kala Ramnath regularly lectures and conducts workshops all around the world. A few worth mention here are the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music in Netherlands, University of Giessen in Germany and the Weill Institute in association with the Carnegie Hall in New York.

She is keen to enrich the lives of under-privileged and sick children through music in the form of her foundation, ‘Kalashree’.

7. Awards and recognitions :

Composition of Kala Ramnath featured in the Grammy Award winning album "In 27 Pieces"
A featured artist in the Grammy nominated album ‘Miles from India’
Recognized as one of the fifty best instrumentalists of the world by the prestigious ‘Songlines’ Magazine
Album ‘Kala’ selected again by ‘Songlines’ magazine’s one of the 50 best recordings of the world
The first Indian violinist to be featured in the violin Bible, ‘The Strad’
A solo essay in the ‘Encyclopedia – Rough Guide to World Music’ for her contributions in the field of violin
Out of her several recordings best selling albums, Kala’ and ‘Samvad’ were ‘Top of the World’ in the charts for the year 2004, ‘Yashila’ for 2006 and ‘Samaya’ for 2008.
A Top Grade Artiste in India's Radio and Television
Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman
Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar
Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskar - 2016

8. Discography :

Samaya
Touching Air
Divine Wheel
Nectar
Kala
Twilight Strings
Kala Ramnath
Young Masters
Dharohar
Raga & Rhythm
Yashila Drive East
Luminous
Ragamala
Ekta
Samvad
Passage Through Dawn
Gifted Violinist
Nishigandha
Singing Violin
Euphony & Cadence
Aavartan
Country Classics from India
Yashila Reflections

9. The Art of Kala Ramnath- Interview in THE HINDU newspaper by Shailaja Khanna
FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Striking a chord Kala Ramnath in performance;

The seasoned violinist talks about receiving the coveted SNA Award and how she is not a conventional musician

Kala Ramnath is from an illustrious lineage; six generations of musicians precede her out of which three generations were violinists. It was but natural that she started playing the violin from the age of two-and-a-half onwards.

Her tenacity and focus have made her one of the top violinists in the country today. She has received a Grammy for her album “Miles from India”, and was awarded the coveted Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recently.

Excerpts :

What does this SNA award mean to you?

I feel truly blessed and humbled, because this award is everything a musician aspires for. When I look back at my journey, I feel convinced of the saying that you keep doing what you have to do, and the Almighty takes care of the rest.

Do you agree that usually recognition from the West happens first, and then we take notice!

Maybe this is true. It is a bad thing. People talk more about my playing in the movie “Blood Diamond” than my concerts! It’s inbuilt in our psyche – if the West recognises us, then our worth is recognised.

You belong to an illustrious family of Carnatic musicians; why do you play Hindustani music?

It was my grandfather who decided I should learn in the Hindustani idiom; maybe he saw I had the aptitude for it? When I was growing, there was Hindustani music in the house; you know my aunt Dr Rajam plays Hindustani music, so it’s not as if I was new to it. I developed a liking for it; it’s probably in my genes! I learnt to sing too. I was of course taught in the Carnatic idiom as a child, but today I don’t remember Carnatic ragas, and now my music is only Hindustani.

Jasraj ji, your Guru says he sees you as the torch bearer of the Mewati gharana. How did you go to learn from him?

With Jasraj ji I have an old relationship. He presented me in a concert when I was just 12. When I was about 17, I went to him to learn as I felt my music was stagnating. I just loved his music.

The layakari in my music is due to Jasraj ji’s influence, you know how important laya is in his music. I have tried to emulate the vocal style totally in my presentation; I don’t follow the instrumental format of presentation of aalap jor jhala then gat.

Growing up, my icons were Rajam ji, Jasraj ji, Zakir bhai and Kishori Amonkar.

In the West you have done a lot of fusion concerts…

I have done a lot of fusion, but I don’t do fusion music in India. If you just add drums and bass it’s not fusion, fusion is when you create something with a musician from another music tradition; it’s the collaboration of different genres to create something harmonious.

To give you an idea of what meaningful fusion entails, I collaborated with a Danish jazz orchestra – there was me on the violin representing Indian music and a full Western orchestra. That year Denmark was nominated as the cultural capital of Europe.

I worked with them for two years before the concert; in between, I went to Denmark 4-5 times. We got to know each other at the first meeting, we wrote some music ideas on paper, worked on them, played together for over a week, realised the shortcomings, met again, explored further and it is only after that, that we had enough to play a two-and-a-half hour concert that made sense. My answer to a musical phrase played should be appropriate; if I haven’t explored the other’s music, how can I do that?

In the past, I have done quite a bit of collaborations with Carnatic musicians like Shashank Subramanyam, Vijayalakshmi Lalgudi – recently, I haven’t done much. Even in Hindustani music, the collaboration with a fellow percussionist like Pt Yogesh Samsi makes sense; we understand each other’s idiom, he knows my instrument and my singing style of playing, I know the tabla.

We have mutual respect for each other as people as well as musicians. Until you establish that, until our musical ideas match, until there is give and take, we won’t be able to create meaningful music.

In a sense you are not a conventional musician…

I am open to many things. I recently played for the movie “Jungle Book”, but I don’t think they used it. I am happy to have my fingers in a lot of pies! I am also a part of 3- 4 music groups abroad. I have a foundation Kalashree for economically down trodden people who I teach; I work with an NGO in Kolkata where I have teachers to introduce music to children.

I also work with sick children in the US where I use music to help them. A nine-year-old child I used to teach, died of cancer; I saw how this sweet chirpy boy slowly lost interest in life, how he struggled, how my music helped him in his final days, so I realised the importance of doing this. Music usually excites, but our Hindustani music soothes, it relaxes, and puts them to sleep. Chemotherapy results in difficulty in sleeping; music calms them and gives them rest. I try to play live for them.

THE END. 

===============================================================================