Tugging at the heart strings, the Rajhesh Vaidhya way! - Rajhesh Vaidhya

Tugging at the heart strings,

the Rajhesh Vaidhya way!

The exquisite Veena instrument in my childhood home in Bangalore still lingers in my memory. There were many Veena(s) at home, since my paternal grandmother used to play the instrument. Yet my grandmother’s prized possession was this special one placed on its ivory stand, looking absolutely grand and regal. It had ivory work all over and she had a story behind it. Apparently, when she was a child, the Mysore Maharaja was so impressed with her talent, that he gifted her with this Veena. Sadly, none of her children or grandchildren took to playing this instrument. Today, after three generations have passed on and with the family having dispersed all over the globe, nobody knows where this Veena is and with whom. 

I had gone to the inaugural of the Music festival at Bharati Vidya Bhavan which started with Rajesh Vaidya’s Veena recital . 

This man has got magic in his fingers and he knows it. It was absolutely delightful to watch him enjoy himself as he played to the spellbound audience. 

We saw a much slimmer Vaidya start with a Varanam in Navaragamalika ‘Vallachi Vacchi‘ and followed by ‘Samana Rahithe’ set in Ragam Saranga Taarangini and composed by GNB. 

There was drums besides mrindagam, kanjira and ghatam. All of these along with Vaidya’s own Veena playing, magnified by some superior personal mike system of his, was actually bordering on becoming too noisy & loud. After all, Bharati Vidya Bhavan has a medium sized hall which was booming with the sound sorry music! 

Next rendering was the popular Saint Thygaraja’s composition ‘Nadhaloludai‘ in Ragam Kalyanavasantha which was wonderful. He ended it with his own composition in Ragam Sallabam or Srothasvini also known as Surya. I have never heard of this Ragam and knew it only because he announced it. 

Altogether, he played with brilliant ease and aplomb. I left the concert with two questions running in my head. First question being, where could my grandmother’s antique Veena along with ivory stand, have gone? 

Second question being how did Rajesh Vaidya lose so much weight? I could also adopt that method since it seems so effective. 

There is more hope in the second question being answered but I am very sure nobody has the answer to the first one. I can just hope the person who has it, values it and plays on it!

About the Author:

Sandhya Shankar belongs to a well respected business family in Chennai. She is a Life Skills & Corporate Trainer by profession. She is an avid reader and a natural writer, who has written several poems and articles. She even presented her poems as a reading at the British council. She has keen interest in all art forms  and has explored many different forms of painting like stained glass and Tanjore being among them. 

Music being her first passion, she had her formal training under Terakotti Chandrasekharaiah at Bangalore and later briefly under Mrs Champa Kumar. She is a regular visitor of concerts, theatre and other live performances. Her witty reviews have gained a loyal and interactive readership for their sound technical commentary and relevance for every kind of melophile, from the casual-goer to the ragam expert, frequenting Chennai’s rich music scene.

(*The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of Music of Madras.)