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Kaatrinile Varum Geetham
 There cannot be a person in the world of Carnatic music, who has not heard of Raghu and Ravi - the flautists, well known for their traditional type of music. Their father was the first Guru and now they teach other students in their music school called Venu Gana
Vidyalaya.
Interview
How and when did you take the initiative to learn Music ?
Our father Sri Sundaram was a disciple of Mali, the renowned and eminent flautist. He has also given concerts on his own. Listening to his rendering everyday, triggered our interest in music and that was how we got into it.
Since you had were practising vigorously right from your childhood, have you ever regretted missing out on the joys of childhood?
Definitely not. When even education, the most important and necessary factor in one's life had taken a back seat, we were not bothered about other factors. We had accepted Music as our life, and so we were never interested in other fields.
Any unforgettable and unusual experience...?
Our concert in the Tiruvarur Thyagaraja Swami temple, where we played from 6 p.m to 6 a.m, was a memorable one as the audience sat till the end and enjoyed our performance. On another occasion, when we played in a Soviet Cultural function, a native of that country, came near the dais and requested us to play Rasigapriya raga in detail. We acceded to his request and played the raga elaborately with Ragam, Thanam and Pallavi. After the concert, he came to us and commended our performance. He informed us that he had been learning Veena for the past seven years and that all his doubts regarding the raga were cleared. That was an unforgettable experience.
What is your opinion about the attitude of the Rasikas - then and now?
In those days. the situation was such that the people interested in music had no other option except to attend the concerts but now times have changed. Now they are able to listen to their favourite artistes' music through audio and video tapes, sitting in their homes. But the students who learn music even now, prefer to attend concerts and they benefit by doing so.
What do you think about your experience as a 'learner' then, and now as a teacher'?
We started at a very young age and were lucky to have our own father as the Guru. He was very strict and we would be asked to practise at least for six hours daily. Then our practice would continue from 3 p.m and go on till 10 p.m. He was a hardx taskmaster but as days went by, we realised the greatness of it and started enjoying those rigorous hours. Though we have produced thousands of students, we are still learning from our Guru.
The facilities were considerably less during our times but not so now. Teaching has become easier now and the students' acumen has also increased with the times. Many of our students have turned professionals.
About your students.......
 Many Flute vidwans who are in the field now, were the students of Venu Gana Vidyalaya once.To be specific, the names of Dasarathy, Shyamali Venkatraman, Thulasi and Natarajan can be mentioned.
My nephew, Vijay, plays the Flute and participates in Carnatic, Hindustani, Western and Light music
programmes.
What other instrunments are being taught in the Venu Gana
Vidyalaya?
Apart from Flute, Violin and Keyboard are also taught. Vocal music is also being taught here. We were also students of this Vidyalaya. Our father, Sundaram, started this Vidyalaya on the advice and order of T.R.Mahalingam. There is a proper method to play the Flute, and Mali was the one who showed the way. Our aim is to follow his style and maintain the same in future also.
Is it possible to teach music via Internet?
The whole world is computerised now. We have tied uo with our student, Dasarathy, and are now teaching via Internet. We don't start the teaching directly via Internet but send the lessons through Audio tapes. After they understand the lessons, we start our teaching. So we can say that Internet is playing a vital role in teaching Music.
About your family.......
Our family is a temple of music. My father was a disciple of Mali and my mother has learnt to play the Violin well. My two sisters are passionate about music and our two younger brothers are experts in both Carnatic and light music. They have their own Light music troupe called Nava Ranjini -- by Murali and Sridhar.
Our sons Ashok and Aswin, who are in their final year Enginnering, are also flautists and they too conduct musical programmes. So our house always reverberates with music.
What is your advice to students?
One cannot become an expert in Music within a short span. Practise will appear difficult to one initially but when one continues to do so with sincerity and involvement, it will become a part of one's life. If they practise with self-confidence, they are sure to emerge as eminent musicians.
Address :
No.39/20, Sengalvarayan street,
Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005,
India.
Telephone No - 9144 - 28446597
E-mail address - fluteraghuravi@sify.com
KT Sri
(Translated by Radha N)
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