COVER STORY INTERVIEW “I dream of the day when the best symphony orchestras play Carnatic raga-s.” RAMESH VINAYAKAM interviews V.S. NARASIMHAN. People in the film industry have only seen him take his customary seat in the first row of the violin section, “Is it true? Is it true?” asked a senior musician from the film warming up before a session or with his headphones industry during a chance meeting in a concert. on, listening in quiet contemplation. He could be Is what true? listening to a Bach, a Tyagaraja, a Stephane Grappelli. That V.S. Narasimhan has agreed to be interviewed? No one can tell. Yes. Tall, lanky, quiet and shy, Narasimhan stylishly sports No wonder the musician was surprised. Such is the a beard greyed by wisdom and knowledge that he legendary taciturnity of V.S. Narasimhan. doesn’t flaunt. With his poetic eyes, long sharp nose and The Madras String Quartet: Narasimhan, Hemanth, Chandru and Sekar C.P. SATYAJIT C.P. 13 l SRUTI June 2010 COVER STORY disarming smile, his face is so serene; a perfect model What did film music give you? What did you give film for an artist to paint a saint. music? The introvert however opened up during this interaction Film music gave me the exposure to different genres of and in a rare instance even broke down into tears while music of the world, which has been a great blessing. It talking about the greatness of Carnatic music. opened my mind to the universality of music, of which I am more than convinced. As regards the second part I can’t RV: Did you ever realise that your initials VS stand for say much. (Laughs). Maybe my attempt to play Carnatic Violin Solo? music in Western tuning and the technique that I have VSN: No, not at all, but I am delighted to know that evolved may become significant in due course. now. Do you think Carnatic rasika-s should listen to Western Who are the Carnatic violinists you love listening to? music too? I have great respect for T.N. Krishnan, M.S. Gopala- Yes, people should shed their prejudice and develop krishnan, Lalgudi Jayaraman and Mysore Nagaraj. I am a taste for good music and not worry about where it most impressed by TNK’s music. His manodharma comes from. This would apply to a Western listener anchored in strict adherence to the roots of Carnatic as well. tradition is what I like most in TNK’s playing. His Do you think that an ardent rasika’s knowledge of posture is very stylish and lovely even to look at. His Carnatic music can itself become an impediment to bowing technique is excellent. MSG’s inimitable understanding Western music? technique, perfect intonation and beautiful sound bowl It would be an impediment if the person were not open me over. I marvel at Lalgudi’s swara patterns and rhythmic minded; otherwise it should actually help! perfection. The Western music world perceives that any music Who are the idols who influenced you in Western music? devoid of harmony is not evolved and that it is I am a great admirer of Itzhak Perlman and Maxim. primitive. The Carnatic music world holds a similar It was a great honour for me to meet Vengerov opinion of Western music for the reason that it is not and shake hands with him. He is an incredible raga based. player, epitomising the ultimate perfection that Both are wrong. It is only that these systems have a human can ever aim to achieve. To me, he is a evolved taking different directions. Each is unique living God. and beautiful in its own way. We must enter inside, Apart from the Carnatic and the Western classical acquire knowledge and then comment objectively. styles, you have also acquired mastery over We can’t pass judgement looking from far away. We Hindustani classical. Did you have proper training in have to, of course, understand that there can be music Hindustani too? without the concept of raga-s. Raga-s are but one of the beautiful aspects of music. The Westerners too have I hear a good deal of Hindustani music and have imbibed to realise that it is wrong to hold that only their music a lot by listening to the great masters. As a session musician you are expected to be ready to play different is evolved and that all others are not. If a mere fragment styles. I have great regard for Dr. N. Rajam. Her technique of music can denote a raga unambiguously, you can only really astounds me. wonder how extensively and extraordinarily Carnatic music has evolved. 14 l SRUTI June 2010.