Defying Gravity: My Journey As A World Record Holder – Chapter VII
CHAPTER: VII
I immersed myself in the relentless pursuit of mastery on the Mridangam, systematically expanding my practice duration with each passing day, guided by the counsel of Pradeep sir. The threshold was now set at an hour and ten minutes, a considerable leap from my accustomed hour. The challenge ahead, to perform uninterruptedly for a staggering twelve hours, infused a potent mix of exhilaration and trepidation into my musical journey.
I had my first periodic test in the month of August. I was preparing for it. I received the information that I have to bring my Mridangam on 17th of August. When I asked for the purpose I was informed that there was a person coming from Coimbatore to assess the readiness woven into my fabric for the impending world record attempt.
On 17th of August, I brought my instrument to school. I was called to bring my Mridangam to first floor during maths period. According to my past experiences, maths period was the ‘sacrificial goat’. Any meeting regarding cultural programs would always hinder maths period. Very recently, when I declined to enrol in sports coaching offered by my school, My maths teacher sarcastically said, “You can cut the class. Don’t miss the opportunity!” That’s how my relationship with maths period was!
I went to the first floor and waited near the library. Our vice-principal entered and asked me to call a girl from XI – A who later created a record in the veena marathon. And soon a boy accompanied us who later created a record in shloka marathon. We were then waiting in the Sanskrit room.
And there entered a man wearing a grey long sleeved safari suit, and saffron in his forehead. His name is Dr. Balasubramaniam. His encouragement remained the sole reason for my success in this attempt. I still remember his words after accomplishing the world record which I would reveal later in the series of episodes.
He asked me some basic questions regarding playing Mridangam and set the stage for a live demonstration. Playing in the presence of someone who knows music proved challenging, inducing a throbbing ‘headache’. I played Adhi Thalam very fast such that I completed it and it did not even cross twenty minutes. To say precisely, It was nineteen minutes, forty nine seconds.
Let’s call him Subramaniam sir. Subramaniam sir said, “I thought you would play for at least half an hour. But your content didn’t even cross 20 minutes. I need more content.” At this time, everybody stopped playing. He gave some feedback for everybody and said to us, “Dr. Pradeep sir must have told you that you can repeat for once in an hour. But it’s not for an hour. It is for eighty minutes.”
I could no longer accept changes in my performance. I was not ready to accept further changes but what to do? If I had to achieve something big, then these are just scratches of a thorn. I prayed to god that no bullet from Kalashnikovs must hit me in my journey except these small smoke grenades that were fired 100 metres away from me.
He asked me for a recording of Mridangam for sixty minutes on sunday. Alas! My prayers failed. I had the chemistry examination on Monday and had to send a recording on Sunday. The class of XI – A and XI – B used to fear the chemistry teacher. She was always described as terror by our seniors which was the real reason behind our fear. It was the first exam and I already created a good impression in her mind. I feared whether the impression would be shattered if I didn’t prepare well for exams. Despite my plea for leniency, he asked us to send the recording. I approached my class teacher and narrated the incident and she approached Vice Principal mam. The Vice Principal called me and asked me to go to the principal mam and say this directly to her. I felt a chill down my spine. But I made up my mind to say. She told me to record for half an hour. I was somehow relaxed.
Post my periodic test, group record event training sessions commenced. The specifics of these group endeavors would unfold in the upcoming chapters, adding another layer to my musical journey.
