The Pattu (music) class

Long before the popularity of the “after school activity centres”, music classes formed an integral part of a child’s (especially a girl child) education in South India. If you are a girl born in a Tamil Brahmin family, you would have to go through the “Pattu class” routine at some point in time.

Why?

Almost all the female members of my immediate and extended family have been sent to a “pattu class” in their early childhood. Families expected their girls to sing at every other function, baby showers, betrothals, marriages, thread ceremonies, festivals like navarathri and so on. It almost seems like people broke into songs at every family gathering.

Until the age of 10, I was generally interested in any kind of music that caught my attention. I did not think that I was good at singing or had any special talent. But soon my mother and grandmother went about in search for a good “Pattu teacher”. When I say “Pattu” teacher, I mean a carnatic music teacher. I tried to convince my mother that I just liked to sing songs and not repeat “sa ri ga ma”. But my arguments were simply ignored and yes I too joined a “Pattu Class”.

 

The neighbourhood pattu maami……

The "pattu class" was conducted by a semi-professional music teacher who taught the kids in the neighbourhood. It was just 2 classes a week and only on weekends. But even back then (yes, back then in the good old 90s) the classes were packed with girls of all ages. There were a few boys tagging along with their sisters, embarrassed, shy or truly talented.

What do I cherish….

What I remember most of my pattu class is the friends I made and the books I read while waiting for my turn to sing.  There were atleast 8 or 10 kids learning music along with me. So we used to spend our time reading all the comics and Amar Chitra Kathas that my teacher had at her home. I remember the music teacher juggling her household chores along with her classes on Sundays. I remember feeling hungry, impatient and glad that the class got over. I remember my friend who used to lose interest in the class if it lasted more than an hour. I remember a shy boy who used to sing like K.J.Yesudas in class. I now see him as a celebrity, a successful play-back singer.

 

And now…..

Seems like a lot of nostalgia. I was reminded of all this when I myself started the search for a good “Pattu teacher” for my daughter a few years ago. Yes, she started learning when she was 6. There were so many options to choose from. The neighbouring pattu maami is no longer available. Classes are taught professionally and conducted regularly. She doesn’t have to wait for her turn and doesn’t read comics during the class. But what remains unchanged is the music. Its time tested and no matter how boring it is initially, it does grow on you. My daughter didn’t argue or protest when she started learning carnatic music. I think she enjoys learning it as much I eventually did. I hope she has good memories of her “pattu class” when she grows up.

I think this tradition will continue. The appeal of carnatic music has only increased over generations. What was once considered elitist and a pursuit of the upper classes has now become a popular form of music. May be it is so because of film music and television shows. But there is no denying that the neighbourhood “pattu maami” has been behind the success of many popular carnatic musicians of today.