The bow of promise

Just like Carnatic violinist HK Venkatram learned from his father, Prof HV Krishnamurthy, from the age of seven, his son Vishnu, also started off at seven, both in Carnatic and Western classical. All the four Venkatrams — wife, Triveni , daughter, Bhargavi and son Vishnu are classical performers. They take forward the legacy of Krishnamurthy who founded the Vijaya College of Music in 1953. “My father too started learning violin at the age of seven, and that is a wonderful co-incidence of repetition,” says Venkatram a software professional.

Widening repertoire

Teenager Vishnu has widened his repertoire to include western classical. Vishnu, entering eighth standard at National Public School in Koramangala from June, loves being in the trail of melody. Although like most boys his age, he is hooked to tennis and football, Vishnu perhaps organically absorbed the melody prevailing at home and is guided by father for strings, while mother Triveni (of Saralaya Sisters) teaches him the vocal nuances. Vishnu entered the western classical sphere thanks to Venkatram’s far-sightedness. He thought it would be good for Vishnu to be familiarised with the best of instrumentation knowledge that comes from Western music.

“Proficiency in handling the bow comes from Western classical as the violin is basically a western instrument,” Venkatram says. “Gradual exposure to a different genre would also have Vishnu not just enjoying and opening up to another stream, but also would have the advantage of adapting bowing intricacies to meet the Carnatic music demands for taking to vocalised formats on the violin.”

Vishnu, who takes Western music classes from Profulla Mondall, stood first at Grade1 Western Classical exams conducted by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, London (ABRSM). While he will collect his prize on April 22 at the Alliance Francaise (5 pm), he will also perform a few Western pieces.

Vishnu’s keen sense of musicality lies in his ear and patience for listening to stalwarts like MD Ramanathan, Lalgudi Jayaraman and flautist KS Gopalakrishnan, amongst others. “I remember he attended the music workshop at Vijaya College of Music that we conduct every year. In four days he could reproduce the pancha rathna, ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu’ and we were surprised!” says Triveni. But what caught Venkatram’s attention was the boy’s uncanny expansion of the serious raga Begada during a class at home that had him explore the intricacies of the scale which proved another eye-opener!

While Vishnu’s quiet persona builds into deeper layers of curiosity for learning more and more, his first Carnatic stage performance too would be in April at the Ramaseva Samithi at the Seshadripuarm College premises in its Talent Spot Concerts (April 9, 5pm) during its 70th year celebrations.