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An Arangetram in London... |
 Saturday,
October 11th, 2003 was quite special for young Amuthan Chandrakumar,
a high school student and talented mridangist from London, United Kingdom.
It was the culmination of years of training on the divine instrument - his
arangetram - playing before a capacity audience as accompanist to
renowned Carnatic vocalist S. Sowmya.
A disciple of mridangam vidwan Bangalore R. N. Prakash, (who is a popular ghatam artiste in the UK and the resident teacher at London Sivan Koil, Lewisham) Amuthan hails from a musical family. His father, Dr. M. Chandrakumar is himself an accomplished mridangist and mother Smt. Leela is a veena teacher. Amuthan was taught the basics of mridangam by his father, but at the age of 11 he began serious lessons from Sri. Prakash with assistance from Sri. Prakash's younger brother R. R. Prathap. By the age of 14, it was decided that the time was ripe for an arangetram and the date was set for Nov. 2002 but it had to be canceled following an injury he sustained during a rugby match at school! Amuthan had his primary education at Saltwood Primary in Hythe, Kent. Having passed the 11+, he moved to Harvey Grammar School and later completed GCSE at Epsom College, with creditable academic accomplishments. He is now studying for his "AS" levels, taking History, Politics, Biology & Chemistry. Combined with an innate love for all forms of music, Amuthan's talents on the mridangam has led him to perform at many cultural events and he also assists his gurus in teaching at the Lewisham Sivan Koil. He has also learned the piano, cello & flute and is self-taught at guitar & western drums. He is part of the South Asian Music Youth Orchestra (SAMYO), performing in their UK-wide appearances.
Song List: Sami Dayajooda (Kedaragowla Varnam), Varanamukha (Hamsadhwani), Siva Siva (Panthuvarali), Rama Nee Samana (Kharaharapriya), Kanjadalayatakshi (Manohari), Meenakshi Memudam (Gamakakriya), Thani Avarthanam, Bhogindra Sayinam (Kunthalavarali), RTP (Keeravani, Khanda Triputa), Ithu Thaano (Behag), Srinivasa (Hamsanandi), Krishna Nee Begane (Yamunakalyani), Thillana (Mandari), Karpagame (Madhyamavathi) & Mangalam. The function was graced by popular vocalist S. P. Ramh (Guest of Honour) and Mr. P. J. Williams (Amuthan's House Master), both of whom had warm words of appreciation for the young artiste and the concert. Carnatica joins them in wishing Amuthan the very best for a successful career.
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At
the arangetram concert held at the Catford Broadway Theatre, in
Catford, London, Sowmya was accompanied besides Amuthan by Sri. Balu
Raghuraman on the violin, Sri. R. R. Prathap on ghatam and Sri.
K. Sithamparanathan on morsing. A capacity crowd and good acoustics
made it a memorable evening. 