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L. SUBRAMANIAM AND KAVITHA KRISHNAMURTI ON A MUSICAL TRIP
`Will turn composer some day'
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Do albums where lyrics reign supreme. Music should project my way of thinking — Kavitha
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Violin maestro Dr. L. Subramaniam and his singer wife Kavitha Krishnamurti are just back from an early morning puja. In Coimbatore to attend the inaugural of the Shiva Shanta Women and Childcare Centre and the Agastya Center of Excellence, they settle down for a tête-à-tête, at The Residency. They start talking about their first love — music.
Subha J. Rao recorded their conversation.
Kavitha: Tell me, what does it feel like to come back to Coimbatore?
Subramaniam: Memories of my childhood come alive. We used to visit this place with our father to attend the Ramnavami concerts at Binny Subba Rao's place. It was `the' place for a kutchery then. Getting to perform here again feels good.
Kavitha: People here would love to hear you. When was the last time you played here?
Subramaniam: Maybe four years ago. Carnatic music and spirituality are inseparable. What do you say?
Kavitha: True. For that matter, that's the case with any form of Indian music. It has emanated from the saints. A musician naturally feels spiritual.
Also, during those initial years of practice, prayer gives the strength to carry on and helps one focus.
Foray into Bollywood
Subramaniam: What was your foray into Bollywood like?
Kavitha: I grew up in Delhi, so I soon got used to Mumbai. And, I had the protection of my family. I had a traditional upbringing. That helped.
Subramaniam nods in agreement. Kavitha continues...
Kavitha: I was not treated like a celebrity at home. And, I don't think I was ever overawed by filmstars. I was more in awe of great singers.
Tell me, did you listen to any song of mine before we got together for `Global Fusion'? [Subramaniam's album]
(Before Subramaniam answers, she says: You didn't)
Subramaniam: You see, I stayed in South India. I used to listen to Hindi songs, but never knew who sang them.
Kavitha: You're yet to answer my question.
Subramaniam: I chose you for `Global Fusion' after listening to many singers. Your voice was striking. After marriage, I started listening to your songs. I think you've sung some really difficult compositions such as Nimbuda.
Kavitha: Okay. When in college, some film songs must have impressed you, right? Which ones would you hum?
Favourite composers
Subramaniam: My favourite composers were Viswanathan-Ramamurthy. I also loved the song Mullai malar melae...
Kavitha: I remember you mentioning some song about laughter... What was that?
Subramaniam: That was comedian N.S. Krishnan's song.
(The conversation veers to the couple's daily routine)
Subramaniam: We usually maintain a low profile. Whatever time we get we like to spend with the children [Seetaa, Ambi and Raju].
Kavitha: We try to take them wherever we can.
Subramaniam: I remember turning down quite a few dinner invites because it meant leaving the kids alone.
Kavitha: At dinner, we discuss music, album releases and what happens in the kids' school and our daughter gives us college news.
We discuss politics rarely. Coming back to music, your friend Y. Gee. Mahendra surprised me when he told me you used to play for films.
Subramaniam: My older brother L. Vaidyanathan was into films. A. R. Rahman's father, Sekhar, would call us to play during our holidays. That helped us earn some pocket money. I would also play for college functions.
Kavitha: You've done a lot of East-West fusion. Do you aspire to compose a symphony?
Subramaniam: (After a meaningful pause) I've always wanted to write compositions based on Indian ragas.
Other interests
Kavitha: What are your other interests, besides the violin?
Subramaniam: Establish a music institution in my father's name. I've achieved all that I've dreamed of — bringing violin to the centre stage, playing with Chembai, doing jugalbandis and the like. Now, I want to write books on music. People should know more about our music. And what about you?
Kavitha: Do albums where lyrics reign supreme. People know me through my songs. So, my music should project my way of thinking.
Subramaniam: You improvise a lot while singing. I wonder why you have still not composed music?
Kavitha: Maybe someday, I'll compose 7-8 songs for the heck of it. And, get you (smiling at her husband) to help me record them.
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