Born in Guntur, A. Kanyakumari is the only female musician to be awarded the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi title by Madras Music Academy. She will be performing in Hyderabad on February 17.
“My mother Jayalakshmi was a Veena player and many of my cousins were into music, so I naturally gravitated towards it. I trained in Carnatic Violin under stalwarts like Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao at Vizianagaram. Later, I moved to Chennai as there were more opportunities, and music was the only criteria for recognition,” says Kanyakumari
She adds, “I am proud to be a Telugu person and it is very important for Telugu speaking states to involve talent in all prestigious festivals. Musicians are often not given as much support and adulation as sports persons.”
Kanyakumari feels that music can bring in global peace. “Governments must provide opportunities to the younger generation and there must be a monitoring mechanism by performing artistes and gurus to ensure that music is propagated in the true spirit,” she opines.
“I teach students all over the world without taking any fee. Sometimes, there is a slight bias towards instrumental music. One must remember that music evolved from sound and instruments and lyrics came much later,” she says.
Kanyakumari has composed Annamacharya kirtanas in ragas named after the seven hills of Tirumala, but modestly says, “I don’t want to take credit for this work. We are all like machines and it is some force that makes us work. So, this beautiful work was created through me.”
She has also composed ‘Cricmusic’, a combination of three ragas — Sahana, Ahirbhairavi and Kadanakutuhalam, inspired by the loud drumming when a cricketer scores runs.
Kanyakumari is optimistic about the future of music in the Telugu speaking states. “People from all over India are in Hyderabad and they can promote good music. The Telugu speaking population must also take active interest in furthering the cause of classical music,” she says.
— (The author is a musician, the creator of ‘Jaywant Guitar’ and a freelance photographer)
