How mridangam exponent Trichy Sankaran elevated the art of accompaniment

In Chennai for the Season, Trichy Sankaran talks about his fascinating journey as a percussionist

Known for his nuanced and sensitive accompaniment, Trichy Sankaran quips, “Accompaniment requires an IAS — involvement, attitude and aesthetics, and superior drumming patterns.”

The veteran mridangam exponent and academic, who turns 80 next year, has played for a range of stalwarts including Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Musiri Subramania Iyer, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, Ramnad Krishnan, Madurai Mani Iyer, G.N. Balasubramaniam (GNB), M.D. Ramanathan, K.V. Narayanaswamy, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Flute Mali.

He began his training in Tiruchi, with his cousin Poovalur Venkatarama Iyer, before joining the maestro, Pazhani Subramania Pillai. The best known of Pillai’s students, in 1971, at the behest of Jon Higgins (popularly known as Higgins Bhagvathar), Sankaran shifted base to Toronto. Now retired as Professor at York University, he has been such a regular at the Deember music season that many do not realise he does not live in Chennai.