Coming from a classically trained background, Srivani has been playing the veena since the age of seven and had picked up the minute details quite early — within a first few months of training, much to her parent’s amusement. But it was recently that her rendition of Cheap Thrills by Sia on the veena took YouTube by storm and has garnered more than 40k likes since its release.
“I was performing professionally on stage when I was in class II and seeing my capability, my parents were thrilled,” she says. Sharing about her love for the instrument she says, “I strongly believe in Venkateshwara Swamy and the veena. Both of them have given me a lot. One won’t believe, even my husband fell in love with me after hearing me perform on stage. Everything I play on the veena is straight from my heart.”
Further adding about her conscious decision to move away from mainstream classical music towards commercial tunes, Srivani says, “It was a conscious decision to not stick to the classical tunes. Nowadays, I feel that the importance of veena as an instrument is slowly diminishing and it is in my own way that I am trying to revive it. I play Bollywood numbers to western tracks on the veena and not only that, I play nursery tunes for my daughter too on the instrument.”
According to her, it is the best way to connect with the next generation and educate them about the instrument. “Whenever I hear that youngsters are taking up veena after being inspired by me, it gives me immense pleasure,” she says. Each tune has a different challenge attached to it and she loves it but makes it a point to practice every day. “Veena gives me the utmost mental satisfaction and peace, especially when I play songs by Ilayaraja,” she says.
It is her sheer talent that is taking her places and not limiting her fame to the state. Recently she performed at the grand finale of a television show held in Kolkata in front of Shreya Ghoshal and Shantanu Moitra. “The experience was surreal and when they gave me a standing ovation I was overwhelmed. Even singer Usha Uthup who was among the audience gave me flying kisses,” she shares. As far as her future plans are concerned, she is happy with the offers from Tollywood. “I have been getting offers and have recorded for few of them. But I am not doing it on a regular basis but concentrating on live performances and promoting the same through social media,” she says.
