Inside Out/Dr L Subramaniam

As long as there is belief, there is music, says Dr L SubramaniamWhat brought the famed violinist Dr L Subramaniam to the city?Does Hey! ...

As long as there is belief, there is music, says Dr L Subramaniam

What brought the famed violinist Dr L Subramaniam to the city?

Does Hey! Ram! go on the backburner then?

quot;No. We8217;ll be working on that later this year as well. Working with Kamal is an experience. The man is so completely involved with, and believes in what he does, that the first time I heard the story of Hey! Ram, I was keen on doing the score.quot;

Right so what is this about his daughter accompanying him8230; shades of Ravi Shanker and Anoushka?

quot;She8217;s come before, only we haven8217;t performed together here in Mumbai. She has back home Chennai.quot; At 14, Sita seems to be following in the footsteps of every other music maestro offspring. Apart from which, her youngest brother, all of seven years old, is also doing a cameo appearence in Hey! Ram as a violin-toting child. Quite a family, this. And all being trained by their illustrious father.

Training Sita for vocals? But isn8217;t hisforte elsewhere?

Dr Subramaniam started off as a vocalist, when at the age of four, he was struck by diptheria, which stole his voice. Even today, the training hasn8217;t been forgotten for this genius who could recite musical phrases at age two. quot;It is easier being born into a family with a centuries-old tradition of music. And I do have two separate teachers, one for Western classical and one for Indian classical, but it was my father who taught me the basics of what I know,quot; says Sita.

The fact that she has also recorded with her father already makes her a celebrity. So how does a typical 14-year-old school student from California adjust to her celebrity status?

Story continues below this ad

quot;I don8217;t know,quot; she giggles. quot;Apart from the fact that I travel a lot for concerts, it isn8217;t as if my life has changed drastically. I live a pretty normal life, like anyone else,quot; she says, California twang in place.

Back to music, how does Dr Subramaniam react to one of his compositions being included in the BMG-Crescendo album,Come On, India! to cheer the Indian team for the World Cup?

quot;What are you talking about?quot; asks a genuinely puzzled Dr Subramaniam, while his daughter hoots with laughter. quot;I wasn8217;t even aware, but it is true that BMG has some rights over some of my compositions, so maybe it has come from there.quot;

Finally, when do we get a chance to listen to his string magic, again?

Story continues below this ad

quot;There8217;s a tour lined up for later in the year. I8217;ll be travelling all over the country. Possibly then.quot;