This story is from April 3, 2009

Crazy kiya re!

SHAHEEN SHEIKH Times News Network / Apr 3, 2009, 00:47 IST

Share

AA

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

The first to adapt the mandolin to play Carnatic music, U Srinivas, talks to Hyd Times about his love for the instrument.

In the league of some of the world��s greatest prodigies, like Menuhin, Beethoven and the like, Mandolin Srinivas broke the glass sealing as he expanded the repertoire of the mandolin, to play Carnatic music.
This boy from Andhra Pradesh then took the instrument to new heights as he enchanted audiences the world over and won many prestigious awards.Excerpts from an interview:
You started playing the mandolin when you were all of six years old.
I come from a musical family and used to watch my father teach mandolin. I was fascinated by the sound of the mandolin, and my father sensing my interest, began giving me lessons. He then took me to his guru R Subbaraju for training �� he would sing Carnatic pieces and I would reproduce them on the mandolin. I was so crazy about the mandolin, that although it a Western instrument, my aim was to adapt it to play Carnatic classical music.

That must have been quite a challenge!
Yes, because there was no one to teach me. I had to pick it up on my own. Besides, there was doubt and discouragement since everyone including established musicians thought that the mandolin was not suited to play Carnatic classical music. They felt I was wasting my time. But I was confident. And the testimony of this was an invitation to play at the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. Mind you, it was only when I started playing full-fledged ragas like Todi, Bhairavi and Shankarabharanam on the mandolin that the doubt and cynicism finally began to fade.

Since you began so young, do you think you are more gifted than trained?
Everything is possible, but you have to work hard. To become proficient I had to practice diligently, and for hours. It is also God��s gift, besides support from my parents and my guru��s blessings. I also believe that it was part of my destiny, since my father wanted me to be formally educated, but I was so crazy about learning the mandolin! Perhaps it was meant to be!
Despite being steeped in Carnatic music, you��ve also done fusion.
I have played with a range of established musicians like John Mclaughlin, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Sultan Khan, and Michael Brook. I am able to deal with other styles, only because I have a strong base in classical music. Fusion is creativity. Also blending of styles helps get a wider audience for Indian classical music.
What��s been your experience of playing in Hyderabad?
I think Hyderabad is one of the most important places for music. And it��s interesting because Hyderabad has an audience for all kinds of music �� Carnatic, Hindustani, ghazals, qawwali and more. I like playing here.

End of Article

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA