“Indian music has made a space for itself in the hearts of people abroad,” said Pandit Jasraj recently while speaking at the Rotary Club award for Cross Cultural Understanding in the city. Praising awardee Chong Chiu Sen, who gave a performance of Carnatic vocal music, Panditji said, “Chong Chiu Sen is a good performer as he has exposure to all the basic forms of performing art.”
When he was about to go back to Malaysia with just Rs 150 left in his pocket, a disgruntled Chong Chiu Sen chanced upon the telephone number of Carnatic music legend (Late) D.K. Pattamal. He called her up and he agreed to take him on as her disciple without any fee and also provided him food at her home. The rest is history.
— The writer is a musician, creator of ‘Jaywant Guitar’ and a freelance photographer
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