This unconventional view has guided the Klang-born musician through his five-decade musical career with the sitar.
While some might call his view naive, the 56-year-old credits it for his enduring success. Samuel remains one of Malaysia’s top classical musicians, with numerous albums, sold-out concerts, and accolades under his belt.
In 2006, he won seven gold medals and a silver at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood. And early this year, he received the 2024 Dr Ambedkar Award from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
These days, Samuel is gearing up for “SwarAsia: The Malaysian Wave”, a concert on Nov 17 at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. He will headline alongside legendary singer Zainal Abidin, blending traditional Malaysian instruments with modern genres.
This fusion style has become Samuel’s trademark. His albums “Sitarasa” and “Nostalgia Malaysia” showcase his willingness to experiment, featuring fresh takes on well-known local songs.
“Indian arts and culture are one of the oldest traditions in the world. There are some purists who say you should keep the music as pure as it is, while others are adventurous, so they don’t mind experimenting with it,” said Samuel, a member of fusion band SwarAsia.
For him, this creative journey has always felt like destiny. This is why, in 2014, he founded his non-profit school Swara Community Arts Centre in a quiet PJ neighbourhood as a way to pass the tradition of Indian arts and culture to younger generations.
This sense of nurturing others stems from Samuel’s own upbringing, where family played a key role in shaping his music. But it wasn’t always smooth-sailing – at the start, friends and family doubted that a career in music was sustainable.
“Even when you want to get married, the first thing people ask is, ‘What do you do?’ The moment you say ‘musician’ – it’s over. There was a lot of hardship, but that’s the price you pay,” Samuel reflected.
Despite these challenges, Samuel never imagined his music would take him beyond restaurant gigs and wedding performances. But “things just started falling into place… I have always had God’s blessing”.
Surprisingly, he once hated the sitar. “At first, I was really attracted to the glamorous side of music. But then when the real stuff came – you have to sit and practise for hours – I didn’t like it and I started having a hatred for it,” Samuel admitted.
“But the whole thing changed after my father’s demise.”
He shared that at age five, guided by his dad Jabamalai Dass – a sitarist with RTM during the 1960s and ’70s – he had received his first sitar, a child-sized instrument, as a gift from his father. But the fun ended when serious lessons began at age seven.
“My father was a strict guru. He was a nice father, but when it came to music, he was like a man in a trance,” Samuel recalled. “He was also suffering from cancer, so he didn’t have patience. I used to get a lot of beatings.”
His father even wrote to his school, excusing him from extracurricular activities so he could focus only on music. Sports were also off-limits. “My life revolved around music. You didn’t have time to think about anything else.”
But these challenges have proven worthwhile: Samuel has led an illustrious career, having performed all over the world with renowned musicians. In Malaysia, he remains an influential figure.
Looking ahead, Samuel hopes musicians will embrace both freedom and tradition, finding their own paths while staying rooted in the craft’s origins. After all, striking this balance has been key to his own success.
As for Deepavali, he shared that his favourite part was spending time at his aunt’s house eating thosai and idli. “That’s the best thing about the festive season: getting together with family.”