Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Entertainment | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

To serve music, with love

MALA KUMAR

Irrespective of whether it was Carnatic or Hindustani music, K.S. Srinivasan, music lover and organiser, turned up at the concert

"His quiet face was the best gauge of my music," says Sarod Maestro Rajeev Taranath. "The expression on Srinivasan's face told me whether I had played well or not," confided the musician, talking about his friend and admirer, K.S. Srinivasan. "He used to come in quietly, and now he has left forever, quietly."

In the world of music, it is well known that an artist's success depends to a large extent on the patronage of the rasikas. But Srinivasan, or "Cheenu" or "KSS" as many called him, went beyond simply listening to music. He worked ceaselessly to bring the best musicians to Bangalore, and once they were here, he ferried them to and fro,arranged accommodation for them and often brought them home. "As a new bride, I got a thrilling surprise when my husband brought the singer Balamuralikrishna home for dinner," recalls Shantha Srinivasan. The surprise soon turned to a norm. Hearing of the 80-year-old's fatal road accident, senior mridangist Vellore Ramabhadran expressed shock. For decades, the two had remained friends,and for most people who knew Cheenu, it was as if an ever-present companion had disappeared.A fan of the maverick flautist Mahalingam, KSS accompanied the late flautist to every concert, making sure he reached the venue on time, and making equally sure that Mali, known for his fondness for liquor, would reach home safely. Among the favourites of KSS in Carnatic classical music were veena vidwans Emani Shankara Shastry and S. Balachander, vocalists D.K. Pattammmal, B. Rajam Iyer and S. Rajam, violinists Dwaram Mangatayaru and Kanyakumari, mridangist Umayalapuram Sivaraman and many others. KSS initiated hundreds of people like me into the world of great classical musicians, offering us something that he himself adored so much — pure music.

CONSTANT COMPANION K.S. Srinivasan (top) was a dear friend of the legendary flautist, T.R. Mahalingam

Equally devoted to Hindustani classical music, KSS served the legendary Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur and Gangubai Hangal. Just a few days before his unexpected death, KSS made it a point to brave the Delhi winter to visit Rajan and Sajan Mishra. When the Mishras came to Bangalore, KSS would be there to assist them in any way possible. For a man who was in contact with so many great musicians,KSS was painfully self-effacing. Never would he boast of having hosted them. It was this simplicity and deep love only for the music and never for the glamour around it that made artistes feel comfortable around him. Vocalist T.N. Seshagopalan would be able to talk about the lovingly served "mendiya dosai and milagaaipodi" in the Srinivasan home, vocalist Aruna Sayiram may be able to recall her impromptu concert there, and Bangalore vocalist S. Shankar would be able to talk about Srinivasan's great devotion to Mali, and Brinda-Mukta sisters.

A volunteer at a homeopathy clinic for decades, KSS efficiently reached medicines to several artistes in and around Bangalore, never once talking about the musicians' illness. In fact, to him, music itself was a cure for every illness, and he would set out boldly to far-flung areas in his scooter or car, even when he had a cold, fever or backache. And he would always firmly get an unsuspecting relative or friend to be his pillion rider, in his effort to spread awareness about the divinity of classical music. Many are the tickets he sold for concerts at Rama Seva Mandali and Gayana Samaja. Many are the donations he collected for Aksharam, the Sanskrit Centre at Girinagar.

"He was very cultured, had excellent taste and was one of the tidiest persons I have known, this Khadi-clad Srinivasan," says Pandit Rajeev Taranth. And I have an image of "Cheenu Chithappa", smiling in his quiet way at me, as if to say, "See, I knew you would be thrilled to hear the Gundecha Brothers' drupad recital!" As condolences pour in from musicians, music lovers and beneficiaries of K.S. Srinivasan's quiet assistance, it makes us smile a bit to imagine him up there somewhere, coaxing Mali to play him a piece in Thodi or discussing the jod ragas of Jaipur gharana with Mallikarjun Mansur...

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail