QUIRKS & QUERIES
VIOLINIST
PADMA
SHANKAR
Tell us how you first decided to pick the violin as an instrument
I was a very little girl when I started learning music. Too
little to make a choice or decision. My mother, my first guru,
Smt. Lakshmi Narayanan is an amazing vocalist and Vainika
(Veena player). She unfortunately could not pursue her
musical dreams for various reasons. So she always desired that
her children take up music seriously. As a little girl my mother
saw that I had the ability to decode into swaras any song she
sang. This is a very important pre requisite for instrumental
music. Since I has this natural ability, she thought violin
would be best suited. Violin is an instrument is like Sarva
vyaapi. It is an indispensable part of Indian classical music. It
is there in dance music, film music and adapts beautifully into
Amy fusion ensemble also. So I can't say I chose, but the violin
was chosen for me
Who has been your major influence in shaping up your
musical journey?
Undoubtedly my gurus. My mother in the beginning. Then, I
did my basic training under (late) Sri. Ramakrishna Sarma of
Mumbai. After this I was extremely fortunate to have found a
guru, guide, mentor all in my guru, the violin maestro Padma
Bhushan Sri Lalgudi G Jayaraman.
Three artists you look up to and why?
This is a tough one. Surely, the number is much greater than
3. Each one of the artistes I have played with has influenced
me in some way. I have learnt with each experience and still
continue to do so. Lalgudi sir, himself was an epitome of
perfection, grace and innovation. He always only gave his best
and encouraged his students to do so too
If you could collaborate with an artist for your music, who would it
be and why?
I have been fortunate to have collaborated with the best as
well as The Who's who in classical music. Am always looking
forward to new collaborations.
How do you think the music scene has evolved or changed from
the time you started?
Music is a creative art and change is definitely going to keep on
happening. If it doesn't it gets stagnant. Music has refined and
changed with the times. Now artists not only pay attention to
the content of music but the presentation also in terms of how
well the acoustics are and so forth
What makes your music unique and stand out?
Without sounding pompous or condescending, I think it's me
who makes my music unique. My learning, understanding,
practice and then presentation and of course life's experiences
all together add a special flavouring that is me and me only.
A piece of music you wish was written for violin but wasn’t
In Indian classical music, none of the traditional pieces of
music were written especially for an instrument or for that
matter even for a performance. They were not composed with
the intention of being a concert piece. Hence it is always vocal
based. Now we have some contemporary pieces composed as
instrument specific.
Tell us your proudest moment in your journey
When I played a violin solo in front of my guru and he sat for
the whole performance. Unforgettable and truly blessed,
The
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