Playing Against the Odds

Ten-year-old Deepak Dhanak from the slums on Napean Sea Road will perform at a classical music festival in Japan

Born to a humble family from the slums that surround Simla House, Napean Sea Road, 10-year-old Deepak Dhanak is breaking the perception that classical music is only enjoyed by the elite in the city. The budding violinist started his musical journey at the age of five, and now, his skill is taking him to The Takasaki Music Festival in Japan.
Deepak will play as part of an 18-member string ensemble from the Mehli Mehta Foundation, a two-decade-old institute that promotes classical music.

His mother, 31-year-old Savita, has been working as a domestic help at the foundation since 2001. On the advice of Mehroo B Jeejeebhoy, the Founding Trustee, she enrolled Deepak in the ‘Discover Music’ class five years ago.

“Deepak grew up in the musical environment that the foundation provided. In fact I continued working even when I was pregnant,” says Savita, who wants Deepak to perform on the best stages in the world. “We wanted to give him the opportunities that other kids have,” says Jeejeebhoy, who has been taking special interest in Deepak’s music.

Deepak started playing the violin at the age of seven and trained under Gopal Chakravarty, one of the teachers at the institute. “I love playing the violin because I like the sound of it. Also, my teacher takes special care of me,” says Deepak. For his performance at the music festival in Japan, he is being trained by Japanese virtuoso Mika Nishimura, who facilitated the participation of the students from Mehli Mehta Foundation at the festival. The string ensemble, which leaves on September 18 for its eight-day tour, will also perform in Tokyo as part of a ‘Discover India’ seminar during its visit.

A Class V student of St Xaviers’ School, Deepak is a class topper, and he brings his determination and hard work to his music too. “He has the discipline to practise, which is the most important skill for a difficult instrument like the violin,” says Nishimura. Currently, Deepak is waiting for his passport to arrive so that he can apply for a visa. “I am excited to go to Disneyland. I have seen a few photos of the place and it looks great,” says an ecstatic Deepak.

meenakshi.iyer@expressindia.com

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