The passing away of noted Carnatic music exponent Uppalapu Shrinivas has left the music world in a state of mourning. Artists across different streams of music and dance have nothing but fond memories of the man who was supremely talented yet carried himself with rare dignity. Here was an artist whose name not only became synonymous with the instrument he played but in fact the instrument became a part of his identity. Usually artists bring instruments from the high pedestals of art to the common man. Shrinivas did the opposite. He took the instrument of the lute family from the popular Bollywood culture to the rarefied heights of Carnatic music by altering it according to the needs of classical music. He faced opposition but his craft silenced everything except the applause.
Seasoned music composer and tabla player Anuradha Pal said, “We were planning to collaborate for a European tour so this news has come to me like a shock. What he did for the mandolin or for Carnatic music is amazing. He single-handedly brought the instrument into spotlight. Whether it was fusion, cross-over, Carnatic music, Hindustani music, he did it all. He made a huge contribution to Shakti (the band) that had artistes like Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, V. Selvaganesh.” Shrinivas was also part of the band when it was reincarnated as Remember Shakti. On stage, Pal reminisced, “He was very sweet, very giving and very appreciative of fellow artistes. The speed, the gamak and the tans that he produced on mandolin were phenomenal.”
Veteran Carnatic vocalist Dr. Vasanthi Krishna Rao said, “He was a child prodigy who proved himself very early in his life. Certainly a great loss and one is not sure if we will have another artist of his calibre in the future. To play Carnatic music, that too on mandolin, is a very rare feat and he was able to master it.”
She noted, “I have attended his concerts and whenever one heard his music one was uplifted to another spiritual world.”
Recalling his association with Shrinivas, veteran dancer Raja Reddy said he was still in a state of shock. “He put mandolin on the classical music map. Unlike many young artistes these days he never pushed himself in the media. He let his work do the talking whenever he wanted to prove a point. A few years back when he was selected for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, I was part of the jury. Many artistes use political push but he said he wanted to be judged on the merit of his talent. And when he was selected he played beautifully. I still remember that performance,” recalled Reddy with a choked voice.
Noted Kathak dancer Sadhanand Biswas said the purity of Shrinivas’s music and its nuances were totally different from that of other artists. “He had a unique place in the world of music. I had attended his performance in Delhi and he effortlessly touched the hearts of the audience. I did not know him personally but his music was his identity.”
Santoor player Abhay Sopori, who lamented the fact that he missed the opportunity to have a jugalbandi with him, stated, “The death of Mandolin Srinivas has left a vacuum in Indian music. He was famous even 20 years back. Even at so young an age, he managed to make an immense contribution to Indian classical music. He was instrumental in introducing mandolin into the realm of Carnatic music.”
Ranjana Gauhar, noted Odissi dancer, who was at Seraikela in Jharkhand for a performance, was not aware of the demise of Mandolin Srinivas. She said, “Shrinivas was a unique artist since the instrument mandolin itself is hardly heard these days, and he played Carnatic music on it.”
