An ambassador of Carnatic music

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Classical Carnatic music with no polllution is her motto and to take it to

the remotest corners of the world is her ambition. ...

[Guest guest]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

An ambassador of Carnatic music

Classical Carnatic music with no polllution is her motto and to take it

to the remotest corners of the world is her ambition. Sudha Raghunathan

one of the stars in the Carnatic music arena began her tryst with music at the

age of nine and now she is at the top of her art and is also carving a niche

for herself as a social activist. The Samudhaaya Foundation is a trust started

by her for social welfare activities. Excerpts of an interview with

Sudha Raghunathan Q: Were you musically inclined from childhood ?

A: My parents were devotees of Sri Satya Sai Baba and often visited him. So I

was exposed to music culture and bhakti. My mother and sister being singers and

music was in the air at home. Q: Why did you chose to train under M L

Vasanthakumari? A: My early schooling was in Bangalore and I had many

opportunities to listen to M L Vasanthakumari and was struck by her vibrancy

and magnetic personality. When we shifted to Chennai, though my mother

never thrust music on me, was constantly encouraging me to participate in

programmes and competitions and also coaxed me to apply for a scholarship for

advance training in music. I did and was selected and chose to train under MLV.

I had ambitions of taking up competitive exams and knew that once I

chose music it would absorb my time and energy. But the fact that I would be

trained by MLV thrilled me and I opted for music, confident that my education

would stand me in good stead even if I failed. Q: Is your ambition the

reason of your phenomenal success? A: I believe in doing well whatever

I do with dedication, focus and hard work and I did it in music too. My rise

was gradual in the early days of my career but phenomenal after the death of

MLV. I provide a variety fare for the audience and there is consistency

in my concerts. The charisma of MLV's music is definitely a take-off point.

Q: Have you consciously imitated MLV? A: No. Music always has the

identity of the guru and so it has been my case. Now I am evolving one of my

own but the stamp of MLV is permanent for I learnt watching and listening to

her. Q: Now your music is more bhakti oriented ? A: It is the

outcome of the maturity of the art. The compositions are on various deities and

as I understand them I am able to make them more emotive. People also desire it,

as it is soothing. Q: Your ambition? A: To be an ambassador for

Carnatic music all over the world and to undertake an analytical study on its

therapeutic use of music which will be of great use to posterity. It will be

the footprints I will leave behind me. NT Bureau

Source: http://www.newstodaynet.com/09dec/mu1.htm

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