Rhythm in His Soul

At 79, percussion legend Therozhi Ramakurup continues to inspire with his unwavering dedication and infectious energy
In Udayanapuram, a village near Vaikom, Therozhi Ramakurup is affectionately known as Ramachettan. Despite his renowned stature as a percussion maestro, the villagers prefer this familiar term, taking pride in their close connection to him. He, in turn, is equally at ease with it.
A well-rounded artist with precise knowledge of percussion, be it panchari and pandi melams or panchavadyam and parishavadyam, Ramakurup has an equally admirable command over the temple rituals in which his community is involved. The 79-year-old is enjoying a spurt in popularity of late, thanks to the ripples he creates on social media with a string of powerful performances. Puritans too fall for it.
Standing at five feet, the energy he puts in while leading melams is incredible and the vibrancy he creates is infectious. The eedu (weight) that goes into his nerkole (straight beat) can be thunderous. Expectedly, pandimelam remains his favourite. Ramakurup, flanked by Chowalloor Sunil and Thirumarayoor Rajesh, was at his best at Koottekavu Devi Temple near Amballoor in Ernakulam a fortnight ago which once again caught the imagination of the enthusiasts.
“It’s all Bhagavathy’s benevolence,” Ramakurup says as always. There are no tall claims and hanging on for a detailed comment could turn futile. For him, every performance is an upasana (worship) where there are no half-measures. Dedication is paramount. Neither the size of the stage nor the strength of the crowd bothers him. In 1981, then governor Jothi Venkatachalam honoured him for his kalamezhuthu skills and, in 2003, chief minister AK Antony acknowledged his contributions. Accolades came thick and fast before and after that too.
“Ramakurup is a rarity considering that he sticks to discipline and values while delivering his task. For him, it’s like a penance,” said Kavil Sundaran Marar, a leading percussionist and composer of Panchakshari melam.
Perhaps it was his strong devotion that stopped him from making it bigger as a pramani (leader). He performed kalamezhuthu pattu himself at Elankavu Devi Temple at Vadayar near Vaikom daily for 41 years until he turned 60. It was a necessity too back then, to support his family. In between, he turned down an offer to take charge as chenda master at Travancore Devaswom Board’s Kshethra Kalapeetam in Vaikom.
“Diminutive, Ramachettan has a posture that is excellent for a percussionist. He always has the rhythm on his feet. The stringent training he received under his uncle Therozhi Achuthakurup, a renowned name during his prime, and the hard work he put in ever since make the instruments look like an extension of his hands,” said performing artist KS Rajasekharan Nair, who has been associating with Ramakurup for more than five decades.
His sons — Ilathalam artist Unni Therozhil and thimila artist Udayanapuram Hari, who is a regular at Thrissur Pooram — carry Ramakurup’s legacy forward. Travancore Royal Family will present its Veerasrunghala after a gap of many years to Ramakurup on May 25 reportedly after reviewing his astute knowledge and the sincerity with which he has performed his duties. While he will accept the honour with grace, those in Udayanapuram know it won’t change him. For them, Ramakurup will always remain their beloved Ramachettan.