REACHING HEIGHTS THROUGH INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC
BUSINESSMAN and classical Indian musician, Jayandaran Moodley will reach a pivotal position in his career when he departs for India, his motherland, to perform at his mridangam arengetram (percussion graduation).
Thiru Jayandaran Moodley is a master of two faculties – business and music – and can be classified as one of South Africa’s top businessmen and top Mridangam exponents.
Moodley began his illustrious career in South Indian classical music at the tender age of 10. The driving force and his inspiration at that time was his late grandmother. Moodley’s tutelage for this art form commenced with his late guru, Thiru Gopalan Govender, who he studied with for nine years – cementing his foundation in this music field. He further studied advanced techniques of this art form for four years with the late Thiru Magendaran Moodley. After the passing of his tutors, Moodley decided to further his studies in Mridangam in Chennai, India. Via Skype, he studied Mridangam for five years in Chennai, undertook short tutelage programmes in India and visited shishyas (succession of teachers).
The graduation ceremony will be facilitated by the chief guest of honour Sangitha Kalanidhi, Dr Umayalpuram K Sivaraman, who is a leader of and legend among some of the greatest percussion artists in the world of classical Indian music. His wizardry on the mridangam has enhanced the quality of Carnatic music of at least three generations of artists, and continues to do so today.
The graduation will be held during the close of Heritage month at the prestigious Vani Mahal Music Academy in T Nagar, Chennai on September 30, 2018. Some of India’s most acclaimed musicians will accompany Moodley for this important musical milestone and will include Sri A S Murali (principal vocalist); Sri Abilash Giriprasad (support vocalist); Sri M R Gopinath (violinist); Sri Papanasam Sethuraman (kanjira); Sri S Hariharasuramanian (ghatam artist); and Sri A S Krishnan (morsing artist). Renowned Tamil television personality, film actress, and Harikatha storyteller, Kalaimamani Smt. Revathi Sanikaran will be the programme director.
A large contingent of South Africans, made up of musicians as well as family and friends, will be attending the graduation. This includes Dr Rajendran Govender, KZN Director of Arts and Culture, who will be speaking at the event.
In the current classical Indian music era on the African continent, Moodley is the only musician to be mentored under one of the classical music giants, Sangitha Kalanidhi Dr Umayalpuram K Sivaraman. It is with this high form of mentorship that Moodley was led by his current Guru, Mannikudi Sri S Chandrasekeran, who in the last three years has transformed Moodley and his family into accomplished musicians.
SPEAKING to POST, Moodley reminisces on his life’s journey that has unfolded into a wonderful experience. “The road that led to the events of today has been a journey – a journey that I can proudly describe as amazing, exciting and frightening at times, beautiful and mostly highly inspiring.
“My arengetram is a start to my Mridangam career. I am immensely grateful for all the support I have received from my wife, children, parents, gurus, friends and family who helped me on this amazing journey. My Mridangam classes will go on. My dream is one day to be one of the first foreign musicians to achieve a grading in All Air India Radio and to become a recipient of the prestigious Sangitha Kalanidhi Award,” said Moodley.
When it comes to propagation of music in South Africa, Moodley is the founder and President of Institute for South African Performing Arts (IFSAPA). Through this organisation, Moodley has brought to South Africa many artists from abroad at his own cost and has rendered free concerts and free workshops for local musicians and the community at large. Through these interventions, Moodley has created a synergy between South Africa and India by combining culture, tradition and music to enhance classical Indian music in South Africa.
Dedication, sacrifice, commitment and innovation are just a few of the many terms that can best describe Moodley, who has contributed immensely towards the promotion and perpetuation of arts and culture in South Africa.
Moodley’s contribution to the Indian classical music industry has indirectly benefited government, community organisations and other stakeholders in the campaign to eradicate poverty through skills training, as well as artistic and cultural advancement. The quality and standard of his programmes have undoubtedly put South African people of Indian origin on the global cultural map.