As the centennial celebrations of SVN Rao draw near, celebrated violin virtuoso Mysore Manjunath, together with his progeny, are poised to deliver a performance that not only pays tribute to the classical music promoter but also highlights the cherished musical heritage of their family. The event, which will unfold at the esteemed Sree Ramaseva Mandali Trust located in Nettigere, has generated an air of anticipation, given the caliber of talent set to grace the stage.
Mysore Manjunath, a maestro whose accolades span both national and international domains and who has showcased his skill in over 40 countries, carries a sense of reverence for the occasion. “It is an honor for my children Sumanth Manjunath, Malavi Manjunath, and myself to salute SVN Rao, to whom music was life. Our ties with the Mandali are etched deep into our lives. My brother Nagaraj and I owe him a debt of gratitude for his unwavering encouragement,” Manjunath shares, immersed in reflection on his way from Mysore after a concert in Dharwad.
The violin, as Manjunath puts it, has been the quintessence of his family’s life, flowing through generations with melodious continuity. It’s a source of composed pride for him to have his children inherit this familial legacy, echoing the sentiment of his father, Mysore S Mahadevappa, when he received the Sangeetha Kalarathna from Bangalore Gayana Samaja in 2013. The patriarch had mused on his contribution to music and the joy he found in seeing his children advance the art he so dearly nurtured. “Can a guru or father ask for more?” he had contemplated, reflecting on his sons and the future embodiment of their craft in his grandchildren.
Manjunath reminisces warmly about Mahadevappa’s days as a grandpa-guru, enlightening his grandson Sumanth with an endearing yet profound approach—a stark contrast to the more disciplined tutelage his brother and he once received. With time, father took over son’s education in violin, balancing the fine line between mastering the instrument and sculpting a performer ready to grace the concert stage.
Presently, Sumanth carries the torch forward with a Masters in music and is aspiring for a Ph.D. at the threshold of academia. His solo performances at international festivals and workshops in illustrious institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge Universities speak of his growing reputation. Plans for a European tour in April are on the anvil, signaling a musician in the making of substantial promise.
Malavi, the younger Manjunath christened after a traditional Carnatic raga, and a student of eighth grade, pursues the strides of her brother with determined enthusiasm. A trained vocalist under her grandfather’s tutelage, she later took the violin under her father’s mindful guidance. A recent violin solo debut—the ranga-pravesha—marks the beginning of what promises to be a vibrant musical journey, complemented by performances alongside her brother. Their practice sessions, Manjunath reveals, are a confluence of improvisation and creativity, vital to the cultivation of their distinct musical identity.
Their household is a sanctuary of rigorous practice, where Malavi once grappled with the elusive and delicate nuances of the Hindola raga. The complexities of the math and grammar of presentation, the agility demanded by lightning-fast phrases, and the intricate melodies woven by adept fingers became areas of intense interest for her. A sibling challenge by Sumanth led to a moment of overwhelmed astonishment and unwavering determination, with Manjunath’s guidance soon dissolving doubts into smiles of accomplishment.
As March 16 beckons, at 11:30am the Sree Ramaseva Mandali Trust in Nettigere will resound with the enchanting strings of the Manjunath family, a stirring homage to SVN Rao’s memory. Attendees are encouraged to contact 9482965659 or email [email protected] for further details. This performance is not just a celebration of one life but an ode to the perpetuation of a cultural tapestry woven over generations, a testament to a family’s dedication to the art of the violin.
The SVN Memorial Hall at Nettigere stands a silent spectator, soon to reverberate with notes that pay homage to its namesake’s legacy, courtesy of the venerable Manjunath family. As the Mysore brothers M. Nagaraj and M. Manjunath continue their journey, they remain torchbearers of a rich musical lineage set to enchant the world for generations to come.
