Twin Tales

Over the last three generations the Maharajpuram family,based out of Chennai have found a binding chord in the form of music. Maharajapuram S. Srinivasan who started his journey as a musician along with his father,the late Carnatic vocalist Maharajapuram Santhanam,continued the same even after the sudden demise of his father in a car accident. “My father had been a great influence on me and all I have done is follow in his footsteps,” says Srinivasan. He began performing solo in the local sabha concerts which in turn helped him to climb the ladder of appreciation. Srinivasan along with his son Ganesh Vishanathan will be performing in the city at Sawai Gandharva Hall on September 30.

After studying English Literature from Loyola College Chennai,Srinivasan began working at the State Bank of India. “Due to my work I could not go for outstation concerts. Eventually in the year 2000,I decided to quit,” adds Srinivasan. For the last 15 years he has been traveling the world along with his music. On his influences,he says,“Apart from my father,Lalgudi J. Jayaraman and his music held my fascination from a very young age.”

Incidentally,Srinivasan’s son,Ganesh Vishanathan also accompanies his father. He is a sound engineer by qualification. He teaches audio-visual communication at the D.G. Vaishnav College in Chennai. Vishanathan had started accompanying his father from a very young age. And apart from Carnatic classical,he also has a firm interest in film music. Talking about aspiring musicians Srinivasan says,“One should get their basics right and then keep practicing them.” Srinivasan himself prefers to rehearse in the evening after his son gets back from the college.

Srinivasan and his son will be coming to Pune after almost three years. “The Pune Sangeet Sabha takes a lot of initiative for the classical music and therefore whenever I come to Mumbai for a concert I make sure that I visit this city as well,” says Srinivasan.

(The father and son will be performing at Sawai Gandharva Smarak Hall on September 30)