She’s got magic in her fingers

SD Sharma

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Born and brought up in Kolkata in a musical environment under the tutelage of her father and guru Pandit Swapan Siva of Farrukkabad Gharana, Rimpa Siva had obtained a post- graduate degree from Rabindra Bharti University but playing tabla remains her first love and only passion.

Known as the Wonder Baby Tabla Nawaaz, Rimpa, as a class VI student, mesmerized the audience when she performed on tabla as accompaniment with legendary flute wizard Pandit Hariparsad Chaurasia during a 75-day tour of US in 2004. She later repeated her tradition of brilliance while performing on tabla with legendary Pandit Jasraj and others. A French cinema crew spent a month in Kolkata to shoot a documentary film titled Rima Siva- The Princess of Tabla. 

In Chandigarh on the invitation of NZCC and CSNA for a performance, she shared about her passion and profession with Life+Style…  

Why did you choose tabla, an instrument that holds a secondary status as accompaniment, and a completely male bastion?

I grew amidst rhythmic strains of tabla which fascinated me and believe me I could play Kehrava Dadra before I could speak properly. Tabla, or for that matter, any field is no more a  male bastion.

Are women playing tabla?

Yes, there are many women players in Bengal, Maharshtra, UP and other parts but not many in the North. I have an all-women band called Nari Shakti with women playing pakhawaj, tabla, guitar, sitar, violin, flute and other instruments. We give regular performances on Doordarshan and other channels, 

Any future plans; what about marriage?

Music projects are a regular process but no marriage as of now. Philhaal toh tabla se hi shadi banaya hai. Beshak ham akela hi hai but we are a joint family with my parents, uncles. dada dadi and of course my tabla.