CHENNAI: Classical Kirkiri is a jumble of nerves and excitement as its members pull up chairs in a circle and get ready to talk about their journey to becoming the first ever IIT-M team to bag the first place in the Tarang light music competition in their own college fest, Saarang."Frankly, this is the first time we have called ourselves a band and performed on stage,” says Anirudh Gurjale, vocalist of the band. “There were interesting twists to the journey. We went through many phases of excitement, almost giving up, may be it is possible, we are getting better… there were times we overestimated ourselves and underestimated the other teams and vice versa,” he says.The band members credit Abhijit Gurjale with the initial idea to enter the competition. “We all have the talent in us. Is there a better way other than presenting all of it together as one group?” asks the modest vocalist of the band.On the band’s original composition, which along with two covers, brought them the Tarang title, Abhijit says, “When we first finished it, it was a typical light music entry. By the time we were done with our improvisations, we had a completely different western classical feel to it.”The untitled song is a feel good number, where most of the emotions are captured in the music rather than the lyrics. The combination of powerful percussion beats playing out soft ragas was a truly brilliant composition.As winners, the group which consists of seven members — Anilesh (bass guitar), Abishek (guitar), Pradeep John (keyboard) and Srivatsan (percussion), apart from Anirudh and Abhijit — will get a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and a five-day residential course at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, where they will be able to interact with a host of world musicians.“This is once in a lifetime opportunity and we are really happy that we have made it so far the first time,” says Anilesh. Keyboardist Chandrashekar adds, “We feel we have matured and learned a lot from the journey.” Basking in their current glory, the group members admit that they are a little nervous about opening for Devi Sri Prasad’s show later in the evening.“Yes, it is a bit scary. Though we have no plans to go professional at the moment, we will see what happens,” says Abhijit.
Comments
0 comment