Mandolin U. Shrinivas. It’s the one name on young mandolin artiste Aravind Bhargav’s lips as we meet and, over the next few hours, it permeates the conversation fittingly. After all, Aravind attributes his musical understanding to his late guru, an exponent unparalleled in the field of Carnatic music.
“I once requested him to play Mayamalavagowla and he did so for me with a smile,” reminisces Aravind, whose mother Gnana Prasuna, a vocalist herself, was keen he pursues his fascination for the instrument.
Her encouragement took him to Shrinivas’ doorstep at age six, beginning a tutelage that would continue until the guru’s demise in 2014.
Aravind was so enamoured of his teacher’s music that after his debut performance at the end of his schooling he decided to become a mandolin artiste. “At that age my guru’s music was enough to convince me.” His family’s support was crucial, they allowed Aravind to undertake courses in sound engineering while focusing on performance.
“Time is precious and Carnatic music as a field of study offers limitless scope for exploration.” Attempting to live up to his guru’s name, Aravind says, is quite a tall order. He is constantly looking at ways to secure the future of an instrument that is now at a crossroads having lost its “biggest banyan tree.”
In an age when young artistes are collaborating with musicians from around the globe, Aravind wants to focus on the classicism that he says, “carries immense power to stir souls.”
“My guru set the path by exchanging musical ideas with the best in the world; Shakti being one of the most memorable collaborations. But his roots were strong and unwavering, allowing him to package Carnatic music in novel formats to suit the situation.” Right now, Aravind wants to concentrate on his classical journey. A move that has paid off in the form of awards such as Bharat Kalachar’s Yuva Kala Bharati and U.Shrinivas Memorial Award .
“To hold an award in my guru’s name is a great honour, but it also comes with a responsibility to continue growing as an artiste.”
While Aravind’s loyalty to traditionis evident, he does not shy away from using technology to connect with rasikas. “As long as the essence of your music is not tampered with, social media can be a wonderful tool,” he says. It is home for many of his current projects, including a collaboration with banjo player Vedanth Bharadwaj that Aravind hopes will open new doors for both artistes.
It’s all about balance, he says, “you need to take the best from the past and the present.”
He takes us through the details of his most recent venture, a mandolin school in memory of his guru. “I want to build a community of quality mandolin artistes.”
He calls it the mission that guides Guru Smruthi, an educational venture that would have made his guru proud. “His music continues to guide me but his childlike enthusiasm is what I remember most. Our music is like that. It brings out the inner child in us.”
