Jayanthi Kumaresh
What was your earliest influences in pursuing veena as an instrument to learn ?
My calling to the Veena came when I was 3 years old and I have been blessed to learn under my gurus who have taught me everything I know and made me the artiste I am today . I believe that I am able to express myself best through the Veena , an extension of myself .
Coming from a family replete with musicians for the last six generations , Music was literally the mother tongue at home . The family was replete with Violinists and Smt Padmavathy Ananthagopalan , my Aunt and Guru , was the only Vainika . My mother started me off on a journey with the Veena when I was 3 years of age . I don ’ t think I made a conscious decision , it just happened and then my Periamma ( Guru ) took me under her wing and my journey with the Veena continues . As a child , I used to hear my Periamma playing and was totally enamoured by her skill and virtuosity . Her tanams were amazing . I used to try to play every single tune I heard on the Veena , be it a vegetable vendor ’ s sonorous call to sell veggies or a film song playing on the radio in the neighbour ’ s house . Everything had to be played on the Veena and my friends and
The Score Magazine
8 highonscore . com other students of my Mother would enjoy my little tricks on the Veena . When I left home to live with my Guru in Chennai , I started my journey with some serious music .
Can you explain us more about Saraswathi Veena and how different it is from normal Veena ?
Every Veena from the south of India is either a Saraswathi Veena or a Chitra Veena / Gottu vadhyam . Actually , any string instrument is called a Veena . “ Vanyanthe ithi Veena ”; meaning , anything that can be played is called a Veena . Even human voice is called GATHRA VEENA . The Veena from North India is called Rudra Veena , Vichithra Veena or BEEN .
The Saraswathi Veena is one of the oldest instruments . We have references of it right from the Ramayana and Mahabaratha times . There is mention of the Veena in the Sama Veda .
It is an instrument where the essence of Indian music with its overtones and microtones ( meaning Gamakas ) can be played , so it is considered to be the closest to the human voice . One of the finest manmade instruments and also the National Instrument of India , playing it is considered to be mystical and spiritual . Playing the Veena is considered to be a form of Kundalini Yoga . Also , you activate the nerve endings on both hands at the finger tips which is very good for the pituitary gland .
Playing the Veena also increases our motor skills and playing any instrument increases the student ’ s memory potential because you have to multi-task . Its significance today is that it gives the student extra mental bandwidth to focus on education and other things . In today ’ s stressful times , it is very relaxing to play a music instrument , more so the Veena because it enhances your personality and the soothing tones of the Veena really has a calming effect on your mind .
It ’ s a very beautiful experience to listen to it , to learn and to play it .
How has the long journey of being a Veena artist been ? Are there any memorable moments off the stage just before performing- that was challenging ?
I personally think that it is a great blessing to be a Vainika and play this esoteric and divine instrument . The Saraswathi Veena is the National Instrument of India and symbolises everything that India stands for . It is an interesting combination of attributes that makes this instrument very special . Its majestic appearance , its gentle and sensitive tone , its silences between notes , the ability to adapt to any genre , its unique ability to showcase all the subtle gamakas that is characteristic of the Indian music , its divinity and mystical nature . I have been a Vanika for the last 48 years and have enjoyed every moment of it . Of course , managing the physical logistics of carrying the Veena from place to place is a subject of its own . The most challenging aspects of the Veena are transporting it