Anand Ramanujam

Anand Ramanujam, a Tabla artist from Nagpur was born in Kumbakonam (Dist.Tanjore) in 1971. Received initial training in Nagpur and later on extensive advance training from Ustad AllaRakha in Mumbai. Anand climbed on to become one of the most sought after artist from Central India and has been greatly acclaimed for performing “Tabla Solo” all over the country and is considered to be specialised in accompanying any Dance style especially Khatak and even Bharatnatyam.

AS A STUDENT : As a Student Anand started learning Tabla at the tender age of 7. After learning basics lessons in Nagpur, and getting a Bachelors degree in Tabla (Sangeet Visharad), the thirst for knowledge took him to Mumbai where he received extensive training from the doyen of Punjab Gharana late.Ustad AllaRakha, for many years.
Academically Anand holds a Masters degree in Commerce (M.COM) from Nagpur university.
As a student he had won many accolades since his school days and notable among those was the the first prize for ‘Tabla Solo’ in the National level youth festival 'Mood Indigo' hosted by IIT, Mumbai in 1990. At the age of 12 performed for the Russian delegates to India as part of the ‘Festival of USSR in India’.

AS A TEACHER : As a Teacher Anand has a rich experience of Teaching Instrumental Music for a period of around 18 years in which a period of around 12 years in one of a leading Public Schools of Central India (CBSE) where he had trained hundreds of students in the art of playing Tabla and other percussions. Many of them are participating in various events and concerts all over the country. Also Anand had formed a School Band consisting of 51 students playing various Instruments which was well received in the CBSE schools all over India.

Anand has developed a novel technique of teaching, whether it is Music or any other subject in the simplest possible way wherein even a layman can follow the same with ease. Even at times Anand gives lecture/dem in the Corporate world for the Marketing Executives and personals to make their products understandable to the common man.
Anand has many firsts to his credit as a Teacher, notable among those are his students from the School appearing for various levels of Govt. recognized Examinations conducted by “Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal” Mumbai. Many of them have passed the intermediate level learning only in the weekly Music period in the School and are awaiting to become a graduate in Music.
Apart from Tabla, Anand also taught various other Percussion Instruments to the students and still continues teaching when ever he gets time from his concert schedule.

AS AN ARTIST : Anand started performing concerts at the age of 13, the first performance being his Tabla solo in Nagpur Doordarshan. As an artist Anand has carved a niche for himself performing with ease for what ever form of Music he is performing, like playing Tabla solo, accompanying an Instrumentalist or Vocalist to performing with Khatak dancers or Carnatic musicians and Baratnatyam dancers, and even the Fusion concerts or Taal Vadya Kutcheris performed by him are well received, which made him the most sought after artist by the fellow musicians and even many of the leading Music Institutions. He has also improvised a Tabla with the tonal quality matching almost the Mridangam/Pakhawaj which he plays along with Bharatnatyam Dancers or Ballets which has received wide acclaim from Connoisseurs of Music. Due to the full time job assignment as a Teacher (1995 – 2006), for quite a few years Anand had to quit the concert tours, which made him bid adieu to the Full time job as a Teacher in the Public School in Sept.2006. And now as a freelance performer in the world of Music, he is devoting his full time for the sacred service.

Some of the notable Concerts:

1994   Performance with Bharatnatyam in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
            With Bharatnatyam for Maharashtra Govt. Ministry of
            Cultural affairs “Vividh Kala Mahotsav Concerts”.
1995   Tabla solo for South Central Zone Cultural Centre in
            Rajnandgaon (Chattisgarh).
1997   Performed for the Maharashtra Govt. Ministry of
            Cultural affairs “Vividh Kala Mahotsav Concerts” with Sitar.
1999   Performed with Bharatnatyam in Chakradhar
            Sangeet Sammelan, Raigarh hosted by State.Govt, Chattisgarh.
2000   Performance at Gwalior University, Gwalior as a special invitee.
2000   Performance at South India Bhajana Mandali, Jabalpur.
2002   As a guest artist at National Convention of Scientists at
            National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land use planning, Nagpur.
2003  Accompanyment with Sitar at the “Swar Jaagar” whole night
           Sangeet Samaroh at Nagpur.
2004  Performed for Nagpur university “Inter University Seminar on
           Drugs-a fatal disaster”.
2005   As a Special Artist performed in the 2nd State level
           Maharashtra Inter University youth Festival “Indradanushya-05”.
2005  At the “International Conference”, Dept. of Fine Arts, Nagpur
            University.
2005  Performed for Jugalbandi for “Peter England” Garments
           anniversary programme in Amravati (Maharashtra).
2005   Performed Tabla solo for “Swarnaad’s Dwayi Vishnu Music
           Conerts” at Saoner (Maharashtra).
2005  Jugalbandi of Mridangam and Tabla in Nagpur Doordarshan in
           December 2005.
2006  Performed with Bharatnatyam at Tikamgarh (M.P).
2006  Performed for Dance Drama at “Career College” as part of the
           UGC grant ceremony in Bhopal, in December’06.
2007  Performed as the lead Percussionist in the Fusion Concert in All
           India Radio, Nagpur live concert as part of the Western Region
           Conference of Station Directors and Prog. Executives of All India
           Radio in February 2007.
2007  A DVD “Learn to Play Tabla” was released by “Geethanjali” a
           pioneer in the field of Indian Classical Music which is getting
           tremendous response across the Globe, being a very effective
           tool for those who want to learn Tabla but are devoid of a
           guru for some reasons.