Venkat Raman
One of the most formidable challenges in fine arts is maintaining and fostering the standards and benchmarks set by stalwarts in the family, says Nandini Shankar, a young and talented Violinist based in India.
She is scheduled to perform at Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar School (located at 16 Howe Street, Newton), Auckland on Saturday, June 30, 2018.
She will be accompanied by Basant Madhur and his nephew Akhil Madhur on the Tabla.
Sargam School of Indian Music is organising the programme titled, ‘Sounds of India,’ in association with ‘Gymkhana,’ bringing together several other artistes.
Natural Gift and Devotion
If music is a natural gift, it should be punctuated with devotion, which this young artiste displayed at an early age.
And the fact that she was raised in a family dedicated to music was a positive influence.
As well as rising up to the expectations of discerning audiences across the Continents, Nandini always faces the task of protecting and promoting the high professional standards of her family, particularly her grandmother, the inimitable Dr N Rajam, who is renowned the world over as the ‘Singing Violin.’
It is no surprise that Nandini is anxious and aware of the need to carry on the pioneering spirit of her foremost Guru and possibly emulate her innovative spirit.
The Rajam Legacy
“I am conscious of the great legacy of my grandmother. She has inspired me with her dedication and commitment and even after reaching heights of fame, honour and international recognition, she never took any of her performances for granted. I always strive to reach the high standards that she has established for herself and her followers,” Nandini said, speaking to Indian Newslink from her home in Mumbai.
Revolution in Violin
Dr Rajam is a pioneer of the revolutionary ‘Gayaki Ang,’ which highly impacted practitioners of Hindustani Music everywhere.
In the first instance, she mastered the Carnatic style at a very young age, and later ventured into the Hindustani style, and made a path-breaking entry through her ‘Gayaki Ang.’
Apart from being a great performer, Dr Rajam has also served as a Professor and Dean at Banaras Hindu University for more than 40 years.
She is a recipient of Padmashri and Padma Bhushan Awards given by the Indian government.
Technique and Sound
Performers of Indian Classical Music are often baffled by the need to stay within the legitimate limits of the art and maintain the melody of the Ragas and other Bhavas that they execute both in the vocal and instrumental form.
Nandini said that Hindustani Music does not proscribe its practitioners, like its Carnatic counterpart often does.
“Hindustani Music is almost seamless and as such does not impose any boundaries or restrictions. Anyone can adapt it to suit their capacity, mood or environment. I like to pay more attention to technique than sound. The musical order must be high; sound is also very important. This must be properly blended to appeal to the world of music lovers,” she said.
“95% of Hindustani Music is improvisation and only 5% is fixed,” she added.
Life’s essence
Music unleashes the innate goodness in men and women. It not only gives meaning and purpose to human life but also inspires piety. It is the quintessence of life.
Nandini has always enjoyed improvising Alaap and its variations on stage, and render numbers with the Tabla artiste/s without having to rehearse anytime earlier.
“Of course, true to all forms of Indian Classical, we choose the Raga to suit the day, time, occasion and the audience,” she said.
Nandini said that her concerts are usually for 90 minutes.
“I would render a single Raga for about 45 minutes, interpreting it as per the response of the supporting artistes and the audience. I understand that the forthcoming Programme in Auckland would be for two hours, and hence I would perform Semi-Classical numbers in the second and final part,” she said.
Akhil Madhur
Seventeen-year-old Akhilesh (Akhil) Madhur is a student of his father Deepak Madhur, with a deep-rotted devotion towards music. He has fascinated audiences with his Tabla skills. His sterling performance with Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in Auckland on March 16, 2013 (as reported in our April 1, 2013 issue) prompted the master to invite him to perform at ‘Saptak,’ one of the biggest classical music festivals in India.
Akhil has inspired hundreds of people in New Zealand with his impressive performances over the past seven years. The confidence and maturity that he displays make him a welcome member of any group or performing artiste.
He is now a regular concert accompanist including as a solo Tabla player or as a spirited part of Jugalbandi.
Akhil will be an important part of the forthcoming ‘Sounds of India’ Programme.
