Tamil Features

Gone Too Soon: The Mandolin Srinivas Tribute

By Deepika Ramesh

On a rainy evening in September 2013,  I negotiated peak hour traffic to reach a hotel in T Nagar for a book launch. I was rushing – book launches generally start on time.  An Incurable Romantic was the book; the biography of renowned violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman by Lakshmi Devnath. Ilaiyaraaja released the book (on time) and reminisced about performing at Lalgudi Jayaraman’s house during Navarathiri.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

After the launch, I joined a long line of Carnatic music enthusiasts to get my copy of the book autographed by Lakshmi Devnath. When I was just about to leave the hall, a fellow journalist held me back, “Mandolin Srinivas is going to perform. You might like it.” I wasn’t sure why he thought I might like a classical music performance (for I’m not really an informed listener), but I went back to my seat to listen to Srinivas.

Clad in an off-white kurta, Srinivas, with a serene smile on his face, interacted with the audience. He chose to not use the entire seat of the chair when he spoke with Ilaiyaraaja. His hair kept falling over his eyes and he nodded often while touching his bosom with reverence as they talked.

And when the audience settled, Srinivas and his small group of musicians started performing.

Despite having listened to Srinivas on tape when I was a child, seeing him perform live was unforgettable. Amidst mamas and mamis – Carnatic music aficionados –  who hummed and beat thalas in the air as Srinivas strummed, I couldn’t quite comprehend how the half hour fled.

“These are thillanas that were composed by Lalgudi Jayaraman!” explained a music lover sitting next to me, without taking his eyes away from Srinivas. When the performance was over, Srinivas gracefully accepted compliments. My neighbor went on, “I have been listening to Srinivas since the time he began to play. His music grew with him. It’s impossible to find anybody who can play classical music on the mandolin like Srinivas does. Avar vaasicha, Mandolin unga kitta konjum!”

srinivas-01

srinivas-01

His last phrase summed up what I was struggling to articulate about Srinivas’s performance.

I vowed to myself that I would attend at least one concert of Srinivas every year. And today I realise the futility of my promise. Srinivas passed away this morning after a bout of illness.

He was 45.

Musicians and fans from across the world paid homage to the gifted musician.

An emotional Zakir Hussain tweeted.

Hariharan:

Shreya Ghoshal:

Vishal Dadlani:

Amit Trivedi:

Vijay Yesudas:

Lata Mangeshkar:

“I just came to know that accomplished Mandolin player U Srinivas who is also known as Mandolin Srinivas passed away last night. I felt sad when i heard the news. When he used to be 13-14 years I used to watch his performance on TV.  He is well versed in classical music. It is actually a difficult task to play mandolin the way he does. I offer my condolence to this great artist. May his soul rest in peace.”

Columnist Madhavan Narayanan:

A.R Rahman:

SP Balasubrahmanyam:

Post by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

And the Prime Minister remembered Srinivas too.

 

Image courtesy: srutimag.blogspot.in/ and worldmusiccentral.org/

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Deepika Ramesh is a Alum at Silverscreen India, and can be reached on Twitter at deepikathinks or by email at deepika@silverscreen.in