Today, even established artistes need social media to reach audiences: Rajhesh Vaidhya | Tamil Movie News
A legend among instrumentalists, Rajhesh Vaidhya is firmly in his groove this Margazhi. Despite a minor health setback, the vainika has continued to impress audiences and fellow artistes alike. In a chat with us, he speaks about his music philosophy, the role of social media, Gen Z audiences, AI, and his love for pani puri! Excerpts:You’ve done both classical and film music. Which is closer to your heart?Everything is music for me. I don’t differentiate between genres. Jazz, classical, Hindustani — for me, it’s all music.AR Rahman recently spoke about the need to bring more young audiences to kutcheris . What needs to be done?We definitely need more youngsters. I already see many of them at my concerts. Gen Z listens to all kinds of music. During the Margazhi season, Instagram is full of classical music Reels , and that’s a good sign.Do even established artistes need social media today?Yes. Earlier, we released cassettes and CDs and brought out albums regularly. Today, forget young musicians, even established artistes need social media to reach audiences.But there’s a darker side, too…Yes. Social media can hurt. My expressions and body language while playing are natural. I don’t act. But if you see comments online, some would say that I behave as if I’m the one who founded music! They compare me with others. I would like it if people commented about my music, whether it was good or bad, instead.Will AI be a threat to Carnatic kutcheris in the future?I don’t see AI coming close to emulating human emotions. AI can’t play live concerts. I don’t see it as dangerous. Maybe, it is on the film side, because if you give lyrics to some of the AI apps, they will create a tune and give it to you. It’s not nice that it happens, but not every music director is doing that either. I can say this because I work with almost all of them.What should be done for Chennai’s concert culture to boom?Instead of focusing our efforts only during December and January, sabhas should think about hosting festivals monthly. If that is done, classical music would reach more people. Film music concerts are packed year-round; classical and fusion concerts should be, too. It is worrying that currently only film music concerts get packed audiences. I think more effort should go into promoting classical concerts and I hope we get to do them every month.Do informed audiences bring out more from you?Yes. I recently performed in Japan for a completely Japanese audience, and they enjoyed our music with the thalam ! It was a new experience for me and many of them even spoke in Tamil with us. Audiences here ask me about the raga and swara I used, and many youngsters take notes as well. Interestingly, youngsters quickly relate a raga to a film song they’ve heard. If music needs to reach more people, I need to reach them in the format they understand better.How do you handle the pressure of a packed season?You have to embrace it. You are not performing every day round the year. During the December-January season, you get a rush. You have to feel it. Every day, you get to meet hundreds of people. That’s a special feeling. This year, I got sick, but I have been performing nonetheless. I believe God and my veena will take care of me.On a personal note…Once-in-a-lifetime talents : Mandolin U Srinivas; my gurus L Shankar sir and Chittibabu sir; Balamurali sir; veena Balachander sir. Internationally, Jimi Hendrix and Michael Jackson; Jackson’s music still moves me deeply. I feel the same when I hear The Beatles, Pink Floyd, or when Balamurali sir sings a varnam .Fitness: I prefer the gym. From January, I plan to work out regularly. I’m already on a strict diet and have lost a few kilos. The one thing I can’t give up is pani puri because I grew up in Delhi.Prekutcheri ritual: We musicians hold hands and pray together. I recite slokams before every concert. I’m also particular about things being in place, even the angle of my veena meetu box.Sabha canteen food: I love it. It’s a festival by itself. For rasikas attending back-toback concerts, the food is a blessing. Rasam sadham and coffee are essentials. And yes, pani puri , too! It is also helping to draw more crowds to sabhas.QUICK PICKSFavourite ragas : Charukesi (also because his wife’s name is Charukesi), Rasikapriya, Sindhu Bhairavi, ManduFavourite food: Rasam sadham, pani puriFavourite vacation spot: DubaiFavourite actor: Kamal HaasanFavourite sport: Cricket; a Virat Kohli fan and a regular PS5 playerWritten By: Praveen Kumar S
