Are youngsters wary of learning instruments? Yes and no. A sabha secretary says that while he gets about a hundred applications from vocalists, he gets only 30-40 from violinists and mridangam players. That is why we see the same accompanists playing for several artists during the season.
According to another sabha secretary, since vocalists are more popular due to media attention, young aspirants prefer to learn vocal music. He feels audiences prefer vocal concerts over instruments because of the lyrical appeal.
Senior violinist A. Kanyakumari and mridangam vidwan Karaikkudi Mani blame the media. They feel newspapers and magazines write mostly about vocal artists. Even reality shows on TV encourage only vocal competitions.
The veterans ask, “Can a vocalist perform without accompanists? No. Good accompaniment can enhance the quality of a concert.” Besides, many singers prefer to go in for the same accompanists, because they develop a rapport with them.
Both Kanyakumari and Mani have many youngsters learning from them and also from other violinists, flautists and mridangam and ganjira vidwans. So, there is no dearth of talented young instrumentalists, only dearth of opportunities for them.
The senior artists feel that many youngsters are frustrated and lose confidence when they see vocalists of their age group getting better opportunities; many budding violin and mridangam players have this strong view.
Karaikkudi Mani says, “Chennai DD's Podhigai telecasts a programme called ‘Puduppunal' where young artists are interviewed and given a platform to perform. I have come across quite a few talented veena, violin, flute and mridangam artists.”
He adds, “Today, there are quite a number of talented female mridangam artists, but again they do not get a chance to display their skills. Even women singers do not give them a chance.”
Kanyakumari has produced and presented programmes with 25 and 50 violin artists. She agrees with Karaikkudi Mani.
“The talent is there. But unless vocalists and even the organisers try them out, how can they unearth fresh talent? Vocalists need not call new accompanists for a sabha concert, but they could try them out in wedding concerts. Also, I think, sentimental reasons play a vital role; some vocalists consider certain instrumentalists their lucky mascots.”
When it comes to solo or duet concerts for violin, veena or flute, during the December season, sabhas include only a small percentage compared to vocalists.
The general opinion is that despite average and not-too-great performances, certain artists find opportunities knocking at their door -- again and again. The same cannot be said of instrumentalists, however talented they are.
The veena and the flute seem to be on the verge of extinction.
So how does one combat this trend? The general opinion is that encouragement from parents, organisers and the audience is essential to make youngsters take to learning string and percussion instruments.
