Friday Review
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Chennai and Tamil Nadu
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Thiruvananthapuram
CHAT CORNER
Style of her own
Gifted artiste Jayanthi Kumaresh.
Jayanthi Kumaresh is one of the most gifted veena artistes of today, innovating tradition with a musical vision. Married to violin maestro Kumaresh (of Ganesh-Kumaresh fame), she
has been creating ripples in music circles with her rare insight, élan and multifaceted genre of music. Polite and down to earth, Jayanthi talks about her musical voyage….
Initiation and training
Many in my family are violinists; like my uncle Lalgudi Jayaraman, for instance. I was initiated into music by my mother at the age of three and thereafter studied under my aunt Padmavathy Anandagopalan. I moved to Chennai and did ‘Gurukula Vasam’ with her for 22 years. I also had the rare opportunity of learning under S. Balachander.
Bonding with the guru
I share a strong bond with my aunt. She was a strict disciplinarian and a tough teacher. But she let me develop my own style and did not impose her school of musical thoughts on me. She helped me find my own identity.
Husband and wife team
We play a veena combination called ‘Samvaada,’ which means conversation. I have also played in films for which Ganesh and Kumaresh have done the music.
Experimental music
Apart from Carnatic music, I have done quite a lot of projects with Hindustani musicians. In the fusion genre, I have a band called ‘Indian Spice’ where we do contemporary music with myriad western instruments. In Jugalbandhi, the musicians try to build a bridge. I believe in finding our identity together and it is beautiful when synchronised perfectly.
Your signature music
I combine vocal and instrumental music (a blend of Gayaki and Tantrakari). A musician’s style evolves. When I was 16 or 17 my style must have been robust. It must have matured now with a better sense of rhythm. And it will grow in my musical journey.
As a teacher
I teach both, vocal music and veena. My style is different from my guru’s. Learn and practise is the buzzword. One thing that bothers me is mediocrity. If you need to be a doctor, you take up 19 years of education, same is the case for engineers, et al. Only in music, after two or three years of learning, people want to be on stage. Like any other profession you have to toil a number of years. One should not be in a rush to perform on stage. That is my philosophy and piece of advice because mediocrity, according to me, is a sin.
Your inspiration
Both my gurus, parents, husband Kumaresh, and his brother Ganesh. And, of course, my uncle Lalgudi Jayaraman.
Mission
It is boom time for classical music. Indian music should not be categorised as ethnic music. It has to find a place in the world map of music. My mission is to popularise the veena and make people appreciate and develop a taste for Indian music.
MAITHRI SRIKANT
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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