“Technology is a double-edged weapon and its judicious use will help us learn many things,” says Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma, popularly known as Prince Rama Varma, renowned classical musician from Travancore in Kerala. A performing vocalist, Veena player, writer and teacher, Mr. Rama Varma has been to the city to chair a music workshop for children, organised by the city-based Saraswathi Gana Sabha at Sri Suryakala Mandiram.
“I have not been to Facebook and Twitter. It doesn’t mean that I am against technology. Till a decade ago, I used to depend on my friends who are fluent in Telugu and English to know the meaning of Carnatic Keertanas that are in Telugu. But, now I am able to know on my with the help of the search engine Google,” he says.
In fact, it is his YouTube channel that popularised him all over the world and ever since the uploading of videos to the YouTube, he has been getting invites from the music ‘Sabhas’ to perform on stage.
The 47-year-old musician admits that he has been enjoying the process of learning music and even now, he considers himself as a learner. “I practise for 27 days a month and give performances for three to four days,” he smiles.
After learning, teaching is second best interest and is followed by performing the concerts.
“Children of this generation are very quick in learning. Many parents are encouraging their children to learn music in the childhood. Interestingly, the same parents are asking their children to give a pause to the practice at the high school level, as their top most preference is the academics,” he observes.
Recalling his childhood, when he was asked to complete his academics, enter the family business and to get married before entering into the world of music, Mr. Rama Varma says he has not fulfilled any of those expectations, but for finishing the graduation.
“I have a strong desire to learn music and I find happiness in Carnatic music,” he says. Though he knows that fluency in Telugu will help Carnatic singers to render the Keertanas from the bottom of their heart, the prince is able to learn only a little bit of Telugu. “But, I know the complete meanings of all the lyrics that I recite,” he says.
A disciple of Vechoor Harihara Subramaniya Iyer, Mr. Rama Varma had a special place for Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, the doyen of Carnatic music, in his heart. “I am proud to be called as his Sishya. He is nothing but a Vaggeyakara, who is continuing the legacy of Sadguru Thyagaraja,” he says in devotion.
Childhood days
Mr. Rama Varma recalls his childhood days in Travancore after seeing the verdant villages en route Visakhapatnam and Kakinada.
“I am planning to come here again leisurely to spend sometime here and to visit the important places around,” he concludes.
I practise for 27 days a month and give performances for three to four days
Prince Rama Varma
Classical musician
