Chennai: Distinguished violinist A. Kanyakumari, chosen by Music Academy for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award this year, thanked the Almighty and remembered with respect her parents without whom she would not have achieved dizzy heights in Carnatic music.
Speaking to DC, she said, “I owe my success to my parents and gurus Vijeswara Rao, M. Chandrasekaran and M.L. Vasanthakumari who are responsible for what I am now. My mother who passed away recently would have been very happy on seeing me win this coveted award.”
Recalling her guru, the veteran musician whose career spans over 50 decades, said, “My mother used to play veena and my sisters would sing. It was their guru Vijeswara Rao who played a significant role in making me learn music. We shifted to Chennai from Vizianagaram in 1969 to learn music from Chandrasekaran as a scholarship student.
“He used to teach music without expecting any monetary benefits. I had played violin for musicians like Vedavalli, Bombay Sisters, Charumathi Ramachandran. I learnt a lot from MLV. She was like mother, guide and well-wisher. I played violin for her concerts for several years. She would treat accompanying artistes on equal terms.”
With innovations and feats like ‘Thristhai Sangamam’ and confluence of seven new ragas called ‘Saptagiri’, the legendary violinist, who has won several awards, continues to enthral her fans and enrich the music world.
Kanyakumari spoke to DC on her way back from Vijayawada where she had gone to create a new raga, Krishna, and set to tune the lyrics for the theme music to mark the celebrations of Krishna pushkaram for DD Saptagiri.
