Literature Recommendations
For Sanskrit, the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Kalidasa. In Kannada, read D. V. Gundappa, one of the finest philosophers! In Tamil, Ponniyin Selvan, Cilappatikaram. Hindi, Prem Chand Ji, Kabir, and if you’re into Ghazals then Mehdi Hassan, Farida Khanum, the list is endless! English, I’d say Three Men in a Boat, P.G.Wodehouse, Shakespeare, John Keats, Byron, Wordsworth.
Movie Recommendations
The Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, Little Miss Sunshine, Good Will Hunting.
Music Recommendations
I can write an entire article about this! But to name a few, if it’s Hindustani, then Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Bhim Sen Joshi, Ustad Rashid Khanand – all the fantastic instrumentalists like Pandit Ram Narayan, Pandit Ravi Shankar too! If it’s Carnatic, K. V. Narayana Swamy, Semmangudi Srinivas Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer. Movie music, Ilaiyaraaja, A.R. Rahman, S.D. Burman, Mohd. Rafi. Western Music, listen to all the great composers right from Baroque, romantic and the post-romantic era.
Any Non-classical Musicians you Look Up to?
I like Metallica, I was part of a rock band in my college! I love soft rock.
What do you think of Carnatic Fusion/Classical Fusion
I have performed Carnatic Jazz before, and released an album when I was in Canada, I really like it!
A Course you’d like to Teach
Shakespeare: A Scene Study. I’d like to teach acting.
Research Tip?
If you’re in the domain of Music and you’re tech savvy, I would advise you to look into tech and music.
Favourite Artist, your one go-to artist?
I’d say Chopin. One of the greatest pianists who knew piano in and out. The piano sounds the best when he expresses it. If at all I am given a chance to go back in time, I would learn from him and just watch him!
What do you do to Unwind?
Sea swimming, underwater diving, I love to spend time with marine creatures.
Can you explain Ethnomusicology in one sentence?
Looking at music through a socio-cultural lens.
If I weren’t a Prof, I would be?
I might as well not be born at all!
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Interview by Article 19
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Article 19 