Vinayakram would go on to win

Later, Vinayakram would go on to win the Grammy for the Best World Music Album for his participation in Mickey Hartrsquo;s Planet Drum, followed by another Grammy nomination, a Padma Shri, a Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship and the Padma Bhushan."The ghatam was always looked upon as a second instrument, but I liked playing it.When Vikku Vinayakram walks on to the stage, you donrsquo;t just get ready to listen to him play. Subbalakshmi in 1966, I was playing the ghatam, but the instrument became very famous only when I was part of the band Shakti with John Mclaughlin, Za Hussain and violinist L. Then, I would have a simple breakfast comprising last nightrsquo;s rice and would continue practising for the rest of the day," says Vinayakram. When I had gone to the US for a concert with M.". Shankar. Harihara who forced me to take up music.

I have kept playing and I will always keep playing.30 am. "It was my father Kalaimaamani T. Then on, the Wholesale LED Bulb 74-year-old has given countless performances in his more-than-half-a-century-old career. So many years of playing does leave behind some effect, but does that stop me No. "It wasnrsquo;t easy. I started with the mridangam," he adds.At 11-12 years, Vinayakramrsquo;s schedule was a very strict one.Today, when people talk about the ghatam, they inadvertently talk about Vinayakram.Vinayakramrsquo;s first performance was when he was 13. "I was never interested in music," he says unabashedly. I was supposed to keep practising until the flame in the lamp went out. After that, there was no looking back," he explains. The man and his humble ghatam might look very simple, but when he played in Hyderabad on Saturday, it was obvious mdash; the maestro simply makes magic.Today, at 74, one would expect Vinayakram to take a break and rest, but he is not one to conform to rules. I play the ghatam at least for an hour every day," he says. He was a tough taskmaster but it made me who I am.R. I would be given a glass of mor (buttermilk) and then, my father would close the door of the room and light a lamp. I was also able to get my elder sister married with the money I made," he adds.

Vinayakramrsquo;s father used to earn his living through performances, but after an accident which wounded his ring finger, he could never play the mridangam.Ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram talks about how the initial struggle in life taught him the most.But for the Grammy award winner, the start to this ardent musical journey wasnrsquo;t easy; there were challenges and obstacles at every point. However, the shift from the mridangam to the ghatam happened much later.Vinayakram has travelled all over the world and has performed with some of the most famous names in the music world, but the thirst to keep playing is still on.S. "I might not be able to practise for long hours today, but not a single day goes without me touching the ghatam. So I got myself to learn. He says, "My hands hurt badly, but I donrsquo;t pay much attention. My family wasnrsquo;t rich, we depended on my father for the income and as the eldest son, I had to take care of them," he says. From a simple "second instrument" to now being an instrument of great importance, the ghatam has travelled all over the world, thanks to Vinayakram. "My day would start at 4. "It was then that he pushed me to start performing so that I could earn. You get ready to watch and feel his performance too

Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bhupender Yadav

Vinayakram would go on to win