Anand.S. Kanth has set a goal for his future profession; a software engineer.
However, his heart is always striving for his passion, music. Practicing from the age of seven, Anand has now become a young performing artist and an expert on keyboard, with a style of his own.
Anand inherited music from his father, Sasikanth. His father has been in the field of music-direction and teaching since many years.
Sasikanth had directed music for a Malayalam movie titled Mahotsavam. Unfortunately this film was not released.
Sasikant’s contribution to Ragamalika, a professional music troupe of yester years based at Kozhikode was immense. There are many famous music directors and singers in and around Kozhikode and Mangalore who came through this home of music. This talent pool throws light on veteran playback singers like, P.Jayachandran, Krishna Chandran and Bhavana Radhakrishnan in Malayalam film field. Mangalore based music director Guru Kiran Shetty and popular singer Srikanth Kammath are other artists who were associated with Ragamalika during their initial years.
L.Sasikant is also the director of Ragadeepam, a children’s music club. It functions in different parts of Calicut. Chavara Cultural Centre, Indian Youth Association and Kalakshethra are some of the major centres associated with Ragadeepam. Now Ragadeepam has about 60 students from various schools, in Kozhikode.
Anand and kids at Ragasandhya
Ragadeepam is the centre with harmonious blend of eastern and western music. It helps students to reach new heights of traditional and modern instrumental music. Here kids realize the power of magical touch of their fingers. The rhythmic, sharp moves help to reach the tune of melodies and fast numbers.
When Sasikanth suffered a severe stroke, Anand had to take the lead role of music teacher. As his father gradually recovered, Anand joined him with full spirit for an effective rehabilitation.
Now Anand is supporting his father L.Sasikant for teaching young kids the lessons of instrumental music on the keyboard.
“There is no difficulty to follow popular tunes and old Malayalam songs. Even small children are quite familiar with majority of the film songs. They know both evergreen songs from Bollywood and Malayalam movies, along with the popular numbers from recently released movies. So training them is an interesting opportunity”, says Anand.
Recently Anand led the orchestra as conductor for “Ragasandhya”, a musical concert by kids at Town Hall, in connection with the 7th anniversary celebration of Ragadeepam, Kozhikode. In this stage program, Anand led the kids group on digital keyboard.
Apart from this, Anand has a team of young musicians and singers with him. They have already launched a musical band; KUYIL. He wants to make the troop more popular.
During school days, Anand had composed and directed an audio CD, “The Strings”. It was released in 2007 by the then Kerala Education Minister, M.A.Baby. It is a Vrindavadyam, by a group of students in Kozhikode.
Based on traditional style, it blends different types of instruments, played in unison by more than 20 artists simultaneously.
L.Sasikant
He procured A+ grade in instrumental music in school youth festivals. He had proved his caliber in painting as well.
“My dream profession is software engineering. But, I will continue my music practice and performance with same spirit. I think it’s not so tough to maintain both”, says Anand with a smile.
Presently Anand is an engineering student in Computer Science at AWH College, Kozhikode. He completed his matriculation from St.Josephs Boys High School, Calicut.
“There are many talented kids around us. Schools are also giving thrust to extra curricular activities like arts and music, than ever before. So, the number of students aspiring to learn musical instruments is also increasing. Our professional training will enhance them to attain proficiency in playing keyboard.
Each year every student of Ragadeepam gets a chance to perform on stage in public as part of its anniversary celebrations. This platform helps to boost the confidence of students and it inspires the beginners, too.
Over years, we groom and gloss their skills as kids would perform on a keyboard in a recording studio,” says Sasikanth.
Anand S. Kanth.
