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Art and music form his timetable

Young Jayakrishnan's palette has Carnatic music in it!

For a Class 12 student, Jayakrishnan has a crammed roster of activities and it is not just academics wise. And it is not so much about juggling tuitions; it is balancing very different hobbies. These are hobbies that could well develop into career options. Painting and Carnatic music get the same kind of attention and commitment that his school syllabus gets.

It must get difficult balancing three varied interests? At least some of the time? "Not really. I am balancing all the three activities; I got 93 per cent marks in my Class 10. I don't want to compromise my education at any cost," he says. His day begins very early at 2.30 a.m. and wraps up at 11.00 p.m., during the course of the day he practise his music and art, attends music and art class and school as well. Such a schedule may read like `Mission Impossible - 4' for the rest of us, but hardly so for Jayakrishnan. "I don't think it is impossible. I believe anything is possible if one puts one's heart to it."

Maiden venture

In Kochi for the maiden exhibition of his paintings, Jayakrishnan is quite upbeat about his paintings. `Chitra Shravana' an exhibition of his paintings is on at the Durbar Hall art centre. His work displays maturity and confidence, the bold pencil and pen strokes of his sketches belie his age. Landscapes, abstracts, portraits... he likes them all but prefers portraits. "I like doing portraits because they are tougher, they need more attention. Translating the finer details on to paper is difficult; one has to have an eye for detail. In my opinion it requires more work and attention," says Jayakrishan. Taking the easier way out, it appears during the course of conversation is not in his scheme of things. Be it painting or music.

At a time when a plethora of talent shows on television seem to be grooming talented youngsters as playback singers, here is one youngster who will have it no other way except Carnatic. He trains under Ajay Nambuthiri. Jayakrishnan and his mother Nandini relocated to Chennai so that he can pursue training in Carnatic music. "Chennai is ideal for me because there are so many kutcheris there, and I can get so much exposure if I am based there," he says. Jayakrishnan's father Narayanan Unni is faculty at the mechanical engineering department of Mar Athanasious College of Engineering, Kothamangalam. "I want to devote myself to Carnatic music, I do not want to dilute it in any way or move away from the pure form of the music. Light music or film music is not for me," says the

17-year-old. T. N. Seshagopalan is one Carnatic musician that Jayakrishnan looks up to and has great respect for. A career in music, however, will have to wait until he finishes his education. Jayakrishnan plans on doing a course in biotechnology, get qualified for a job and then turn professional in Carnatic music. His eyes are open to the dangers involved in compromising on his education in favour of either painting or music.

A supportive family, talent and the determination to do whatever it takes to make a go of his career as a musician, Jayakrishnan has a lot going for him. There will be a Carnatic vocal concert by him on July 3 at the Durbar Hall art gallery.

SHILPA NAIR ANAND

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