Being challenged is no drawback. Give them an opportunity and see them fly. Seventeen--year-old Varun Chenichery is slowly making waves. In 2015, he won special recognition at the annual Pt. Jasraj-Rotary Club of Hyderabad Scholarships for Music and Fine arts and had the opportunity to sing before Panditji himself.
Credit for his achievement must go to his parents Madhavi Adimulam and Mohan Chenichery and Hindustani vocalist and Harini Rao. Harini says that singing before Panditji is something all musicians aspire for. “Varun was calm and sang beautifully. It was all the more special for me because this was the same stage and award that I had received years ago and today I was seeing my student receive it. It was overwhelming! All credit goes to my guru Swati Phadke,” remembers Harini.
Pandari Nivasa Sakhya Panduranga Varun has no stage fright and once opened Harini Rao’s concert at a temple and surprised the audience. At his concerts, Varun always sings popular natyageet, Narayana rama ramana
Many studies have proved strong link between music and language learning and this is substantiated in Varun’s case. “Once I came to know about the link and his inclination towards music, I started music therapy and there was no looking back for Varun,” says Madhavi. She says that from the time Varun was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), they started working with him on his communication. “We started with Sign Language and then moved on to Pictures Exchange Communication and then to words/speech, she says.
On initiating him into music, Madhavi says that ever since he was a baby, he loved music. “While he was in kindergarten he would not sit in his class. If any other class, in the school, had a music class, he would insist on attending that music class,” the mother says. Varun’s interest in music arose even though not hailing from a musicians’ family,” says Madhavi.
Madhavi plays as much music as possible for Varun as music is calming for him for all his communication challenges. In music class, Harini makes him explore swaras . “Yes, he does have a lot to improve upon, but the key is to be happy while singing. I constantly appreciate his singing and keep giving him high-fives,” says Harini.
Learning music under Harini for the last three years, Varun is also attending a group class at Swati Phadke’s. Recalling,her association with Varun, Harini says that when she was asked if she could teach Varun, she was hesitant but took it up as a challenge. “It’s the best thing I have ever done as a teacher – to have gone ahead to teach Varun. He’s very intelligent and understands and grasps different taals quickly! His learning ability in patterns of notes is amazing! It is always fun teaching him,” she says.
Quizzed on his plans, his mother says he wants to become a ‘big’ singer. “Let him learn music as much as he wants,” Madhavi says. Proficient in 20 languages, young Varun loves to learn scripts, travel, cook and bake. A big fan of Nigella Lawson, he excitedly watches her cookery programmes on TLC. An amicable child, Varun never gets into conflict with his younger brother Pranav, but likes to be left alone.
