In a village in silence, his violin continues to sing for 80 years

The terrible silence of narrow Madthu Theeru (road) in Mathirimangalam in Mailaduthurai district is suddenly broken by delicate strains of a violin. Ninety -nine -year -old Meenakshi Subramanian is fixing her instrument. She briefly launches Kedaram or Shankara Bharanam or Khamas or Begada or Pantuvarly in a uniqueness before playing the role of her favorite kitchen.

Born in 1934, Meenakshi Subramanian is probably one of the last musicians of her generation from the Samagra Thanjavur district, limited to her village – within the four walls of her house – within the four walls – more accurately – while others moved to Chennai. She can also carve a place for Violin’s Mayavaram Govindaraja Pillai style in the world of Karnataka music in Chennai. However, that occasion was denied as polio suffered his legs at the age of four.

Bhagwathar, “Ms. Subramanian says, whose excellent hearing faculty, even at this age, still allows them to listen to music with clarity.

His father, K. Ramchandra Iyer was a school student, who arranged for a house tuition for him till the eighth standard. A music lover, he decided to teach his daughter a violin. Vithillingam Pillai regularly visited his huge, old Tanjavur-style house-then to give preserved-a lesson by his family. A picture of a keen four -year -old Meenakshi is hanging on the wall of the house. The music atmosphere in her house – as her aunt and four sisters sang – worked in her favor, and she quickly picked up the violin. It seems that music has maintained it throughout his life.

However, he rarely had the opportunity to participate in a live concert or perform. “I participated in only two concerts – a DK Pattamal and by another Chembai – was organized in the school in connection with the annual ceremony, where my father worked,” he said.

She was married to Subramanian, who went to Mathirimangalam to live with her. “He was also interested in music as he was a relative of singer and musician Dr. S. Ramanathan,” he said.

She went to play some of her late husband’s favorite songs, including Brocheva In silence, Skeeping In Kedaram, Anaga Ram Bhaja In Pantuvali, and Bhartiyar Chinchiru KilliaShe still holds violin with whom she started playing for the first time – it is now 80 years old.

“Once, during a rain match, it was damaged, and my brother repaired it in Chennai. She used to play a big thing – now rarely an hour a day due to her age,” said Ms. Ganson, “said, her son said. He said that his elder brother, Jaganmohan, who now lives in Chennai, is well aware of the nuances of Karnataka music.

“She regularly sees the Karnataka concert on Shankar TV. She wakes up very early in the morning and starts watching. She is very fast and quickly learns new ventilations,” her daughter -in -law, Shankarai said.