Dr L Subramaniam’s name might be synonymous with the violin but he credits his father for his fame. By Team Viva
Violinist and composer Dr L Subramaniam is credited for popularising Indian ragas on the violin worldwide. But when you talk to the maestro, he insists that it was his father, Professor V Lakshminarayan, who was instrumental in taking the violin to the global stage as a solo instrument.
“My father is responsible for making Indian classical known internationally. Earlier, the violin was an accompanying instrument. His dream was to make it a solo instrument. I follow my father’s vision and direction and learn from him.
But not just the violin, his father worked towards mainstreaming Carnatic music. “He had to create lot of new techniques because it was not possible with the existing ones. He worked on technical perfection, concentration and tonality to expand the reach. People have seen what I have done but are unaware of what my father did,” he adds.
It was to make the contribution of his father known better that Dr Subramaniam organises Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival every year. The festival, currently in its 29th year, was started with a focus of bringing leading artists from different genres and cultural backgrounds on one stage. The world’s best artists bring together their unique perspectives and art, giving the audience a rare opportunity to experience musical styles from around the world. “We aim to bring some of the greatest musicians and orchestras to our doorsteps for our people and students. We have brought 29 different groups over the years, otherwise one has to go to different cities and continents to hear them. The best part is that they don’t perform only their genre, they blend it with Indian classical as well. This helps to create a global awareness about various genres of music and promote Indian as well as global heritage,” says Subramaniam.
This year the festival celebrates the 150th birth year of Mahatma Gandhi. The musical tribute by Dr Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti will feature Symphony Orchestra of Castile and Leon from Spain. The artist says, “We are bringing the Spanish orchestra for the first time to India. We have had orchestras from Germany, Norway and other places.”
His wife, Kavita, will be singing Raghupati Raghav and Mera Bhajan, an original composition. “We are doing a piece called Nada Priya. This will be the concluding piece which I will be playing with the orchestra. There is also Spring Rhapsody. It is a very special year,” he says.
Besides the festival, Dr Subramaniam works on collaborations as well. “Once I was invited to perform at Lord Belgium’s 70th birthday in Germany. After I finished playing the violin he came to the stage, hugged me and said it was very powerful and he wanted to collaborate. I never thought he really meant it. But voila, it did happen,” recalls Dr Subramaniam and adds that this was the most enriching experience of his musical journey.
During the initial stages of his career, an overseas collaboration meant a lot to to him as he nurtured his father’s dream of taking violin to the global level.
The emphasis, according to Dr Subramaniam, is on promoting Indian classical music. “Even the collaborative work, which we call contemporary classical music, is based in Indian and Western classical as well as world music. I created this format in 1980s and it called for a global fusion concept,” he says. In pursuance of this aim they brought in performers from Africa and eastern European countries.
But the collaborations do not end there. Dr Subramaniam interacts with students and engages with them during workshops. “I have also done two television shows including one on Shankara TV where we present different instruments, explain their working and different concepts. Through this students who are interested in music but cannot afford to learn music get the opportunity to do so,” he says.
Dr Subramaniam believes that one cannot emphasise enough about promoting young instrumentalists in the South Indian tradition. “If they are given the opportunity, our music will go a long way. Young instrumentalists don’t get enough opportunities or even what they deserve,” he says and adds, “If people are given opportunities it will make way for new innovations.”
If one is talking about students, the focus naturally shifts to Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts, Bengaluru. Dr Subramaniam elaborates on the reasons for starting it. He says, “Great musicians didn’t go to school but they make great artists. Ustad Bismillah Khan, MS Subbalaxmi are examples. We have not seen any great performers coming out of any University. Music is a practical art form so if you want to become a performer you have to practise it. This is the reason the courses are designed in a manner where 70 per cent of the emphasis is on practical aspect.”
Talking of the musical instrument that he is so closely identified with, Dr Subramaniam says, “The violin is used in different genres including Western and Indian Classical, jazz or even in an orchestra. The reason is that it is very easy to adapt. For example Veena is not used in Western music but it is common in Indian tradition. But the violin has been adapted worldwide.”
And as a larger discipline, he feels that he is nothing without music. “It is my everything. It is part of my emotional journey, expression and living. It has given me inner peace and satisfaction. One has to experience the state of mind while one is playing music. For me it is very personal and also professional,” he concludes.
(The festival is today at Siri Fort Auditorium.)