Following the outstanding success of its first showing in Bengaluru on March 18, 2023, the Mahindra Percussion Festival (MPF) is set to energize audiences yet again. This eagerly anticipated event has now been expanded to a two-day celebration, scheduled to take place at the Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts on March 23 and 24. The festival boasts an impressive roster of artists that includes the iconic ghatam virtuoso Vikku Vinayakram, the djembe maestro Taufiq Qureshi, and notable mridangam players Viveick Rajagopalan and Charu Hariharan. Adding to the mix are the dynamic drummer Darshan Doshi and the vibrant Bengaluru band Swarathma. The diversity of this line-up promises an array of collaborations, each set to culminate in an auditory feast of new and thrilling soundscapes, characteristic of the ever-growing popularity of drum festivals in recent years.
Darshan Doshi, performing this year with Rhythms of India, remarks on the uniqueness of the Indian percussion scene: “In India, the soundscape isn’t confined to just the regular western drum kit. We’ve got an eclectic collection ranging from Hindustani and Carnatic to folk and even Bollywood styles.”
Percussion festivals, while contemporary in their current manifestations, draw from historical roots deeply embedded in the Indian music tradition. Taal vaadya concerts and Gurupurnima have long celebrated percussion maestros. The annual Barsi concert in Mumbai, paying tribute to tabla legend Ustad Allarakha, has seen a confluence of Indian and global drumming superstars alike, including Billy Cobham and Giovanni Hidalgo.
2016 marked the onset of the Mumbai Drum Day by drummer Gino Banks, who, inspired by Modern Drummer magazine’s events, sought to replicate the genre-diverse celebration in India. Banks emphasizes the enriching nature of these festivals: “Drummers, typically relegated to the background in standard concerts, are thrust into the limelight, often shining during their solos.”
The success of Mumbai Drum Day inspired similar events in other cities, notably the Bengaluru Drum Fest curated by drummer Arun Kumar in 2019, and the Kolkata International Drum Festival introduced by tabla artist Subhen Chatterjee and his son, Sambit Chatterjee. These festivals have succeeded in drawing both aficionados and novice enthusiasts alike, creating a universal appeal that resonates deeply within diverse audiences.
Remarkably, the platforms provided by these festivals have also led to increased interest in various percussion instruments. Taufiq Qureshi notes the growing curiosity in the African djembe, with many youngsters now eager to master the beats that were once foreign to them. The ease of online learning has bolstered this interest, especially after the pandemic-period restrictions.
The MPF acts as a nexus for various drum traditions and innovations. Taufiq Qureshi leads his evolving band Surya, while multi-percussionist Charu Hariharan is set to deliver a layered performance featuring a quartet, folk musicians from Kerala, and tribal artists from the Jenukuruba community. These performances are bound to enthuse listeners with renditions of rare and traditional percussion pieces, intertwining modernity with indigenous authenticity.
Other standouts include Viveick Rajagopalan, who promises to blend Carnatic rhythms with electro-acoustic ambiance in ‘Two Summ’, and energize audiences with a fusion of Kuchipudi dance, rap, and rhythms in the Ashtanayika project.
The festival underscores an openness among percussionists to new sounds and collaboration. Emerging musicians and seasoned pros alike, such as the Grammy-winning Selvaganesh, relish the opportunities presented by the MPF to engage with and learn from their peers globally.
As the Mahindra Percussion Festival approaches, there is a palpable excitement in the air. The array of rhythms promises to not only showcase the traditional drums of India but also to chart new territories in percussive music, amplified by the shared belief in the boundless potential of musical exploration and cultural exchange. On the Planet Drum, the rhythms perpetually flow, a testament to the rich tapestry of percussive artistry and its resonance with the human spirit. Friday Review beckons you to feel the pulse of these indomitable rhythms at the Mahindra Percussion Festival – where every beat tells a story.
