Tony’s tabla journey

HIS was one of the few faces that was seen on the Mastana Bahar programme every week for four years. During that time he accompanied over 300 performers as the main drummer and tabla player with the BWIA Indian Orchestra, then resident band for the popular TV show. Tony Ramesar made his name on the show and witnessed the early performances of many of our best artistes whose careers also kicked off there from 1984 to 87. Now a resident of Bocaraton, Florida, where he runs a telecommunication service, Tony is one of the most recognised tabla players in Florida. His services are in demand by popular artistes who come from India to perform in the USA and Canada.

He is also involved in the promotion of shows and one of his major projects is the tour of India’s Anuradha Paudwal and Anup Jalota to TT for two shows on May 29 at Guaracara Park and May 30 at the Centre of Excellence. On a visit to TT in connection with the shows, People caught up with Tony at his father’s place in Tunapuna. “I am a home boy. I would fly so often to this country. If a month goes by I feel I am missing out on something so I have to pack a bag and visit for a short while, then I am okay,” he said of  his attachment to “home” in Tunapuna. He started playing the dholak (hand drums) at a very young age. When he lost his mother (Samrattie Ramesar) at age three, he was placed in the care of his grandmother, Parandaye Ramesar, who was one of the well-known Bhojpuri (Indian dialect) folk singers in Tunapuna. So, Tony had to carry around his agee’s drum and soon enough he was beating the drums as the ladies sing. He looked forward to providing drumming for them.
 
“There was a certain joy and happiness about them. They shared a unique friendship and it reflected in the way they sang and I was part of this beautiful scene. I was like the star among them and they made me feel special and I grew up knowing that I am a special individual,” he said with passion about his childhood drumming. When Tony was 14 his father Tommy (a retired police officer) bought him a pair of tabla and encouraged him to learn the instrument. He studied with Sudhir Varma of Lucknow, India, who was in TT at that time and became a certified tabla-player. Within three years he was ready for the stage and began performing at big shows and toured with famous artistes. After his stint on “Mastana”, he migrated to Canada in 1988 to earn a better living financially. In his mission to succeed  he went from clerk to manager of a service station. His reputation as a good tabla player was not stifled, however. “I remember my father saying that music brings fulfilment and I should never neglect my music and this thought stayed with me. I reach for the tabla very often. Every time I remember my father,” he said.

Tony’s success has not spoilt him but he remains down-to- earth, easy to communicate with and is an extremely warm and friendly person. “I grew up in humble surroundings, and my grandmother was an extremely kind and generous person, who would bring a smile to my face in an instant. And I think I have a lot of her in me,” he said smiling. Speaking about his skill on the tabla he says:  “The drum is the very beat of my heart. Everything moves with rhythm and I have found that I get my rhythms and groove from the drums. When my fingers touch the surface of the drum it is like a spiritual sound that comes out. It is magical and only the dedicated musicians can truly experience this.” He has accompanied stars such as Jalota, Paudwal, Mehdi Hassan, Talat Aziz, Sujaata Khan and Hari Om Sharan. He has been contracted to play at the New Orleans Jazz Festivals and he played on a recording done by Universal Studios and Disney World. His tabla is heard in more than 120 recordings done by the stars of India.