Why Dhwani?
Dhwani Music School
At Dhwani Music School, we are dedicated to sharing the rich heritage of Indian classical music such as Mridangam and Nattuvangam with the world. Founded by a renowned Mridangam player with over 30 years of experience, our school offers comprehensive training in various Indian musical instruments and vocal styles. Whether you're a beginner or an aspiring virtuoso, we are committed to nurturing your musical talents and helping you reach new heights in your journey of musical exploration.
Founder
Ramesh Babu (Head Mridangam Guru)
K.P.Ramesh Babu is an accomplished percussionist from Chennai, India. He hails from a family
known for its artistic talents. His father, Shri K.P.Bhaskar Das directs an art institute in Kerala.
Ramesh started his study of percussion at a very early age under the able guidance of his father
Shri K.P. Bhaskar Das and master teacher Shri. Puthukode S. Krishnan. His mother, Mrs.
Kalamandalam Chandrika, a noted Bharathanatyam (Indian classical) dancer and teacher
helped him train as an accompanist for dance. His passion for music and search for excellence
led him to his guru Sri. Karaikudi R.Mani.
Ramesh Babu became a dynamic performer and won many prizes in the "All India Radio'' music
competitions. And He is A’ grade Artist from All India Radio, His versatility earned him a
scholarship from the Cultural Department of India. Ramesh has emerged as a successful
freelance artist who has accompanied some of India's finest musicians and dancers on the
media and stage. He has accompanied several dance luminaries such as the Dhananjayans,
Krishnaveni Laxman, Chandrasekhars, Narasimhacharis, Leela Samson, Madhavi Mudgal,
Alarmel Valli and several upcoming artists. Ramesh has accompanied music virtuosos such as
B.V. Raman and Laxmanan, Vairamangalam Laxminarayanan, Sriram Parasuram and Anuradha
Sriram, Palai C.K.Ramachandran, O.S.Arun, T.V. Ramprasad, Pantula Rama etc. He has
worked as a dance accompanist with the Dananjayan's at "Bharatha Kalanjali" in Chennai
for the past 28 years. Ramesh has travelled throughout Asia, Middle East, Europe, Australia,
and the United States assisting several dance companies around the world by providing
rhythmical support, score, and compositions.
Recently he was part of a special ensemble performance at Singapore Esplanade Theater where
he performed unique percussive instruments from a southern Indian state of Kerala.
Ramesh has been touring the US for over two decades now. He has worked closely with dance
companies such as Kalanjali Dances of India, California; Apsara Arts, Singapore; Bharatha
Kalajali, Australia. He has played at important occasions such as Khajuraho Dance festival,
Konark Dance Festival, India International Center, Swaralaya Festival, Surya Festival, and Indian
Art Circle, Kuwait; and the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Apart from being a
percussion virtuoso, with proficiency over several types of percussion instruments, Ramesh has
many music compositions to his credit. His skill, versatility, and sophistication have earned him
high praise from art critics and audiences world over
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AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
● A grade artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan (Indian National Television)
● Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Temple
● Recognition from Austin Tamil Sangam, Austin, Texas
● Recognition from Nrihtyanjali and Sri Ranganatha Seva Samiti, New Jersey,
US
● Recognition from Sri Venkateshwara Temple of North Carolina, USA
● Award and Title “Sathya Laya Jala Sundaram” from Bharatanjali Trust,
Chennai
● Recognition from FESTWAL WARSZAWSKI Skrzyzowanie Kultur, Warsaw •
Award and Title “Master of Rhythm” from Upasana Kalakendra, Houston TX,
US
● Recognition from Society Dharani, Kochi
● Award and Title “Sulaya Mani” from Australian Tamil Union, Melbourne,
Australia
● Award and Title “Natya Sangeetha Barathi” from Barath Kalachar, Chennai in 2017
● Award and Title “Best Accompaniment Mridangam Artist” from Shanmukhananda Sabha,
Mumbai in 2019
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Critical Acclaim:
● “Ramesh Babu is a sincere and hard working artist who handles the mridangam
with utmost respect and reverence. He is a versatile accompanying artist who has
accompanied many leading musicians and dancers. A person with a keen sense of
rhythm and precision he is liked by all and an easy person to work with. I highly
recommend him for any job or position in his profession as a percussionist” - Guru
Guru Karaikudi Mani
" Ramesh Babu’s mridangam nadam is excellent. He is an asset to any dancer, since he as
a very good understanding of rhythmic intricacies and with his playing embellishes the
dance choreography imaginatively and creatively. He is also very hard working and
thorough in his efforts.
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Media Coverage:
He is undoubtedly one of the best dance percussionists for
Bharatanatyam today” - Alarmel Valli (Leading exponent of Bharatanatyam)
● “Ramesh Babu added punch with his non-stop dexterity”, The Hindu, Chennai 2012
● “Ramesh Babu (mridangam) gave the jathis and the musical passages grandeur with
nimble-fingered drumming, staying always in sync with the nattuvanar” - The
Hindu, Chennai 2014
● Ramesh Babu on the mridangam provided unerring rhythmic support” - The Hindu, 2004
● “The piece was not just about Sheejith’s powerful presence; it also established the might
of the accompanying artists such as Adit Narayan (nattuvangam) and Ramesh Babu
(mridangam), whose effortless tisra jathi and its brisk thattu-mettu follow-on impressed.”
- The Hindu, Chennai 2015
● “Ramesh Babu is an experienced mridangam player for dancers, and this was evident
throughout the program. He was totally at ease switching over from mridangam to
maddalam (maddalam for the Mohiniyattam), whenever both dancers were on stage.”
-Narthaki 2003