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Prodigy drums into the record books
Drumming is rhythm. The whole concept of music is based on tempo and rhythm, says Siddharth in response to a question on the use of drums in Indian music.
Setting records is a child’s play for drummer Siddharth Nagarajan. Fresh from receiving an honorary doctorate in drumming from World Records University, UK, on September 29, the 17-year-old isn’t one to sit back and bask in the glory. He has now earned the record of ‘most drumbeats in a minute’, by drumming 2,038 beats breaking the earlier record of 1,589 beats. Hyderabad Hans catches up with the rising star in the drumming scene on his future plans
Drumming is rhythm. The whole concept of music is based on tempo and rhythm, says Siddharth in response to a question on the use of drums in Indian music. He went on to add that he recently played drums to a Carnatic keerthanam.
“There is no rigidity. Music is all about pleasing the ears,” he says.These words from a 17-year-old class 12 student surely prove that he has come of age and is no more the child who stole the heart of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2004 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“These are the tender hands that gave me so much happiness in the last few minutes,” said APJ Abdul Kalam when Siddharth played at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in 2004 at the tender age of seven.
The tender hands have now been hardened after thousands of hours of practice but the pleasure that the audience gets has multiplied three-fold. Siddharth is now touring and recording albums. He composes his own music and has started a band called ‘Addiction’ earlier this year.
What about films?
“I am open to films but will love to be a live artist. I like performing to an audience,” he says. No wonder he has been mesmerising audiences from Kuala Lumpur to Kolkata and Singapore to Sriperembedur.
While his long term plans are tours to the USA and other countries, his energies at the moment are directed towards his father Nagarajan’s academy, Nagi’s Art of Drumming at Punjagutta, which will celebrate its anniversary in November.
Taking up music came naturally to Siddharth, for his grandfather is none other than G Narayana, a tabla player of repute, and his father is a known percussionist in south India. His mother Vidya is a trained singer who gives him all the support he needs. Albums, tours, live shows and just drumming are what Siddharth’s life is all about at the moment. “If music be the food of love, play on,” said William Shakespeare, and Siddharth seems to live by the saying. Addiction, after all, is the apt name of his band.
