What strikes most about Sirkazhi Sivachidambaram as he walks into the Rassa restaurant at T.Nagar for our Sangeetharasam session is his humility.

He walks in with folded hands, profusely apologising for being late. “I am also a doctor. I had to work today,” he says.

Shuttling between music and medicine has never been difficult for this son of musical prodigy Sirkazhi Govindarajan. Music is in his blood.

“But when I came home after winning a judge’s special prize for my singing during my school days, my father was aghast. He had come up the hard way so he wanted me to focus on education first. My mother Sulakshana Govindarajan came to my rescue. She reassured my father that I would be focused on my education.” It was only after he enrolled himself for a medical degree that his father was fully convinced of his passion for music.
“Of course, on my insistence, he began training me early. My home provided me the gurukul atmosphere and I consider myself fortunate for that.” His father was his gnana guru and he was also trained by his father’s peer, vidwan B. Krishnamurthy.

Mention Tamil music and Sivachidambaram brightens up instantly.

“Because that is the original Carnatic music. Our Tamil trinity has composed such beautiful kirtanas. Today, singing in Tamil, especially in Tamil Nadu, has become an absolute necessity. A new

generation of singers has become globally popular singing in Tamil. But it is a pity that performers of Tamil, from the Thevaram era, Thirugnanasamba ndar hymns, Bharathiyar songs, singers who sing more Tamil, even accom panists who are talented enough to play intricate Thirupugazh talas are not popularly promoted generally in other sabha concerts. On the contrary, they have a whole year of music season all-round the year, all over the world.” For Sivachidambaram, Margazhi is as good as any other month.

“I am choosy about sabhas during Margazhi. This is to keep my distinctive style in the musical etiquette and music. I do not want to compromise on the quality of my music appreciated by the overall masses globally for the sake of the season’s dictating attitude.” For him, music is divine. It is all about enjoying and communicating with the audience.

“They pass me chits and, if I can, I will surely oblige them. I believe it is because of chits so passed that I have got a seat of my own” Sivachidambaram says, signing off.

And you understand why Sivachidambaram is so loved.