Where is the veena?

Does veena find a place in the December Season? Is there an increase in the veena concerts compared to last year? Here is what vainikas tell us...

Well known vainika E. Gaayathri says, "I've had six concerts this season. But, I want to cut it down in the years to come." She believes that a quality of a performance is important than the number of concerts. She adds, "In general, the audience is pretty thin for a veena concert. And as early as 1985, I introduced film music in my veena concerts."

Says Mudikondan S.N. Ramesh, another veena artiste, "You need a lot of patience and musical knowledge to listen to a veena concert. In fact rasikas abroad listen to a concert till the end, which we don't find here. Though the number of concerts this year may have increased, the rasikas have not."

Ramesh says he even sings a kriti while playing it on the veena. He adds, "the sounds of the veena are applied in music therapy and the instrument has a healing power".

Melbourne based Iyer Brothers (disciples of vidwan Pitchumani Iyer) are however happy with the rasika turn out at their concerts this year.

Says Ramnath, one of the Iyer Brothers, "It is true that there was a vacuum and there are more vainikas now to fill it up". He adds that artistes should also make use of the latest technologies in accoustics.

And Gopinath says that the hard work and interest of young veena students can make a difference. The Iyer brothers have about 40 students back home at Australia.

Revathy Krishna, who has brought out thematic albums on film music believes that one of the reasons for drawing more rasikas to her concert is the introduction of film music in her repertoire.

Commenting on Electronic veenas, she says, "If the electronic can produce the same vibrations and tone, then there is no harm in playing it,".

Jayashree who presents veena concerts alongwith her husband Jairaj says, "If you can prove your talent, you can be sure of opportunities to perform,". The duo follow the 'Tanjavur Bani' of playing veena.

A rather unusual thought that Jayashree has is this: "One of the reasons why many do not pursue veena is the difficulty in carrying the instrument, especially when you travel abroad for concerts."

Says veena artiste B. Kannan, "The younger generations should take up veena at least as their hobby." He recalls one of his experiences, "It was easy for me to judge at The Music Academy's veena competition. There where only four participants!"

Commenting on this, says Kannan, "It is a joint responsibility of senior artistes, orgnanisations, parents, youngsters, rasikas, and the media to improve the scene".

Vasantha Saravanan, a 70-plus vainika and a composer herself says that there were more veena kutcheris in the past compared to the scene today. She says, "Veena is a 'suga vadyam'... you have to put your heart and soul into it to bring out the mellifluous sounds. Rasikas can understand and enjoy veena better, if an artiste sings and plays the instrument. She adds that sabhas could feature more veena concerts.

S. Ravindran who has performed widely in the U.S and U.K says, "It is 'Veenaikku vantha saapam'!" Giving statistical details on the number of sabhas and veena concerts, Ravindran laments, " It is a disgust if sponsors decide on the artistes to be featured in a festival, instead of the organisers".

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