Celebrity Bites: Anuradha Pal

The first professional woman tabla artist in India, Anuradha Pal has made a mark for herself in the industry against all odds. In a chat with her over her favourite Chinese food, we get to know her...

Text: Shraddha Mishra  Photographs: Vijay Barathe

At what age did you start playing the tabla?
I started playing professionally very early in life. I was a pre-teenager when I started performing. As a schoolgirl I used to get teased a lot by other students because it was new for people to see a girl playing tabla. While I studied mainstream science and had the option of choosing a career as a doctor, I found my calling with music and made it my life.

How did you make a mark for yourself in the industry despite the perceived gender bias?
The gender bias is very much prevalent in the industry. I had to struggle a lot to be taken seriously here. Moreover, since I didn´t come from a family with music background, it became even more difficult to open doors. When none of these factors worked for me, I found the best way to make my mark- to let my work speak for me.

You have a very happy and smiling demeanour always. Is that something music does to you?
My recent experiences have had a very big impact on me. The past few years have been emotionally difficult as my parents and even some close relatives passed away around the same time. It was very humbling. I felt that each person has his or her own struggles. So I didn´t want to dwell on the sad experiences. It takes a lot of strength, but I decided to make sure I am always happy if not for myself then for others at least.

Tell us about your bands...
I was keen on forming an all-woman band, so that other women in music also get encouraged. I call the band Stree Shakti. Apart from that I also perform Jugalbandi with Myself where I perform stories entirely interpreted on the tabla. I have also worked with a very interesting fusion band which had more than 50 African artists along with us women.

You travel a lot. What is your favourite destination?
I travel far and wide for my performances, across the globe. When I think of a favourite destination, for food, it has to be Japan. I love the way they serve food there.  I am an artist´s daughter. So the aesthetics of the food, the presentation and use of colours is what appeals to me the most in Japan.

Do you cook at home?
I love cooking and am very good at it. But I don´t get any time in the daily routine to enjoy making a meal. I travel a lot, which means I hardly get much time at home.

What do you like to eat?
I love eating Asian food. I like fish, especially salmon. However, for most times I am vegetarian. I only eat non-veg so that I have options while travelling. I live very close to the Novotel in Juhu so I frequent Sampan for Chef Penpa´s Chinese delicacies. My favourite here is the Crackling Spinach. My husband loves the Hakka Noodles here, so these are the two dishes we enjoy the most.