Rammohan had his initial training under a couple of gurus including his father V.N. Meera, who learned the art of Kathakali singing from Madambi Subrahmanian Namboodiri, does stage collaborations with vocalist Deepa Palanad. Says Meera, “Initially, finding a mutually viable sruti was a problem, suitable for the male and female voices. Or Rammohan sings a Kathakali song with a particularly folksy tune, to which Meera replies with a piece from the traditional Kaikottikali dance where women typically sing and clap while dancing in a circle.
Rammohan renders a Kathakali verse on Hanuman while Meera responds with a Carnatic kriti hailing the monkey god. Thematic concerts based on the Ramayana, for example. The couple has been working on various combinations in recent times. “Listeners write to us about related subjects such as a padam that reminded them of a yesteryear master or a Kathakali show seen decades ago,” says Rammohan, who is a disciple of vocalist Kalamandalam Sreekumar. The response to the live shows has been highly encouraging, says the couple, who both have a Masters in Carnatic Music from the University of Calicut. On Facebook, the couple has no accompanists, unlike their stage shows, where they are supported by the violin and flute, besides mridangam, tabla, ghatam, chenda, maddalam, idakka and occasionally the keyboard. “It was unbelievable when the musician told us subsequently that she has been following us on Facebook.” That was a pleasant surprise,” smiles Meera. Sowmya “suggested we sing Kerala-based ragas such as Puraneera and Kanakurinji. On the other end of the spectrum are experts and maestros.
“And the other day, a doctor called to thank me for the ‘therapeutic value’ of our renditions.” As well as lawyers and engineers in Kerala,” says the 45-year-old Rammohan. “There are techies in America and Europe. The initial months earned the couple more than one lakh views, a majority of them from Malayalam speaking people, including expatriates in the Gulf and the U.S.
“To our surprise, we found that there has been a steep rise in audience numbers, higher than expected,” adds Meera. This has not meant any additional income, “but that isn’t the aim,” shrugs Rammohan.
Singing in unison series#
They began with the ‘Kathakali Sekharam’ video, and followed it up with a series of collaborative music performances.Īfter that, the couple has been even busier than usual. Even bigger audienceĮarly this April, when the country and much of the world was reeling under the lockdown, Rammohan and Meera got a request from a Facebook group to present a live concert. The journey broadened and deepened the couple’s repertoire, which primarily comprises Kathakali music as well as Carnatic and Mohiniyattom compositions besides a few bhajans, folk and even film songs. It was after the success of this 2013 concert at Vishnumaya Kshetram in Peringottukara that the couple went on to carve a successful joint career. Initially hesitant to sing together in public, the trained classical musician couple finally accepted the offer. Seven years ago, a temple in Thrissur invited Nedumbally Rammohan and K.N.
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