ABOUT

AS A MULTI-PERCUSSIONIST

Sri Amrit can handle many percussion instruments other than Mridangam & Khanjira.

In his younger days, Amrit has played Ghatam in a few concerts.

Amrit has played Morching in several concerts.

Amrit has recited Konnakkol in many concerts.

Amrit was a self-taught Tabla Player. He regularly played Tabla in his School & College. He was a part of the Group song team which won many prizes in many completions in School, District & State level. He also provided percussion support to the School Dance Group again winning many prizes in School, District & State level.

Amrit has a huge fascination for Thavil. He is a self-taught Thavil player. He played Thavil for many years in several concerts of ’Laya Surabhi’ Ensemble directed by his Guru Sri M. Vasudeva Rao Sir. He also played Thavil in many other concerts, ensembles & fusion concerts.

Amrit also liked playing on Chande a lot. Again self-taught, he played Chande for some percussion ensemble concerts & Dramas.

Amrit performed a very special concert called ‘ASHTA VADYA’ in 1998 at The State level Seminar of AKBMS where he showcased 8 percussion art forms – Mridanga, Khanjira, Ghata, Morching, Tabla, Chande, Konnkol & Thavil on one stage.

Amrit also used to play the Dholak in college days for Group Songs & Dramas quite often.

Amrit has played Dholki in ’Laya Surabhi’ Ensemble directed by his Guru Sri M. Vasudeva Rao Sir. He palyed Dholki in his maiden TV appearance in Doordarshan, National Televison Channel of Govt. of India for a Violin Ensemble directed by his father Vidwan Sri Basavanagudi G. Nataraj in the year 1985.

Amrit also tried his hand on Thamate, a regional folk Instrument of Karnataka. He played Thamate for Nandi Kolu Kunitha , a traditional Folk Dance of Karnataka, in the District level Inter College Competition.

Amrit has played Pakhawaj in some musical projects & Audio productions

Amrit has played the Cajon, Djembe & some other hand drums.

AS A VIOLINIST

Sri Amrit also has learnt Violin from his father Late Vidwan Sri BASAVANAGUDI G.NATARAJ & elder sister Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran. He has performed Violin in many concerts on Violin. He has played Violin Duets with his sister. He has also played Violin Trios with his Father& Sister.

Amrit, along with his sister Smt. Sunitha, has lead many Pancha Pitilu Vaadana (Penta Violin Performances) & Multi Violin performances directed & conducted by his Father Vidwan Sri Basavanagudi G.Nataraj.

Amrit has performed Violin in the special children’s programme of Bala Jagath Children’s programme for the (All India Radio, Bangalore) which was recorded (Broadcasted) & performed in front of live Audience in Bangalore Town Hall.

Amrit used to regularly assist his father in teaching Violin to students right from a very young age.

Amrit is also a self-taught Harmonium & Keyboard player. He has played Keyboard for some events in school & college.

AS A SINGER

Amrit started learning Carnatic Vocal from his father at the age of 3.

He sung in many competitions & won prizes too. He had to discontinue Vocal due to cold & throat issues in his childhood. He later took part in some competitions & events in his college days. He also coordinated the group song teams in his College.

He guides many Vocalists about the nuances of music & presentation.

AS A COMPOSER

Amrit is also a composer. He has composed Musical pieces & rhythmic structures for various projects. He has composed the opening & finale pieces for many percussion ensembles.

Amrit has composed a set of Sanskrit verses in praise of his Guru Sri G. Harishankar commemorating his 60th birthday.

Amrit composed the title music & background score for ‘VEDA SUDHA - An introduction to Vedic Sciences’ animated interactive CD by the National Institute of Vedic Sciences.

Amrit has composed musical bits for re-recording used in television serials.

AS A CREATOR

Sri Amrit conceived & conceptualized the idea of creating a Audio-visual Software that could show Taala on a computer screen, an idea way ahead of its time. He shared this idea with his longtime friend & collaborator Sri Kishor Srivathsa who was very much interested in this idea & started developing this software through his company ‘Shree Technologies’. After a lot of research & hard work, Kishor was able to bring this idea into life. The First Version was called ‘Bramha Laya’ that was released in 2001.

Then, they came up with an upgraded version called ‘Sunaada Laya’ and released it in 2004 on the hands of ‘Padmabhushan’ ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ Legendary Sri T. V. Gopalakrishnan, in a grand event at The Bangalore Gayana Samaja.

AS A MULTI-FACETED ARTIST

Amrit ventured into many other streams of Art other than Music.

Amrit has taken part in Fancy Dress & Mono acting in his school days. He won several prizes in Fancy Dress & Mono acting competitions in his school days. He is also quite good in Mimicry.

Amrit created content, wrote script & directed some Skits & Mad-Ads. Those won prizes in Intercollegiate Competitions.

AS A THEATRE PERSON

Amrit was very active in the theatre group in his college days.

Amrit was a regular in the music team & also was usually ‘Student in-charge’ of the music pit. He played a main role in up lighting of the Dramas through his rhythms increasing the impact & intensity and enhancing the outcome of the Drama.

Amrit played the Tabla & gave background rhythm for a Musical Play called ‘Kerege Haara’, which was adjudged the best play in the intersection Drama Competition of National College, Basavanagaudi and was specially staged again in Dr. H. N. Kalakshetra (National College, Jayanagar) for public by ‘Padmabhushana’ Dr. H Narasimhaiah (President of National Education Society).

Amrit scored the title music & background score for T.P Kailasam’s play “Gandaskatri’, when he was in PUC.

Amrit provided the rhythm score to plays like ‘Halagali Beadara Dange’, directed by Sri Kote Ananth & Sri Poorna Chandra Tejasvi (popular Actor & Director).

AS A DIRECTOR: Amrit has directed two Dramas Anweshakaru & Anukolakkobbanna & co-directed another drama for the Intersection competitions in National College Basavanagudi.

AS AN ACTOR: Amrit acted in some dramas as well.

Amrit was adjudged the ‘Umesh Rudra Best Actor Award’ for his impressive performance of a poet & social thinker in the play ‘Raavi Nadi Dandeyali…’ (Directed by Sri Malatesh Badiger) in the State level Inter collegiate Drama competition jointly organized by Bharath Yatra Kendra, Karnataka State Nataka Academy & Gnaanabharathi (Bangalore University).

Amrit’s role of ‘RaJa Divodaasa’ from the play ‘Maadhavi’ was a big hit & hugely appreciated for the acting, comedy, timing & his body language.

Amrit played the pivotal role of a Head-constable in the drama ‘Anweshakaru’ (which he directed too), received a lot of praise.

Amrit’s cameo in T. P. Kailasam’s very famous play “Anukoolakkobbanna..”(which he directed too) was a smash hit. Padmabhushana Dr. H Narasimhaiah (President of National Education Society) highly appreciated that role very much.

Amrit was a founder member of a Theatre & Cultural group called ‘Samyuktha’, created by his college friends.

AS A NSS Member

Amrit was a n active member of the National Service Scheme (NSS), a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Govt. of India to promote community service.

Amrit participated in several camps organized focusing on social service, literacy, health, environment & rural development..