A conversation with Violin maestro Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman

During my visit to India in March of 2008 I met with Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman, the great Violin virtuoso, at his residence in T-Nagar, Chennai. He was not completely alright after his stroke but was in very good spirits. I was fortunate that Sri Jayaraman agreed to see me, when I requested his son Sri GJR Krishnan. Lalgudi was very appreciative of my little gift to him – a very small model Violin (5” with bow and box and is made true to the actual violin in size, shape and material). The interview was very short due to his condition, his memory not being very good at that time. But it was very touching to see the man bounce back in spite of the hurdle to his health. He was in high spirits and asked me to take a picture with him and told me that he would like to visit my brother, Vinjamuri Govindarajan, when he visits New Delhi next. He also conducted a class for his students (2 sisters) who came at that time. It was heart-warming to see the giant of a man to act so positively, even after such a big stumbling block. It is really a lesson, for a lifetime, to be learned! This was one of my most fulfilling interviews! – Sandhya Vinjamuri (March 4, 2008)

(When I last met Late Sri Bangalore Venkatram, during his talk about my Father he mentioned that in order to provide accompaniment to my Father one needed to be really good. He also mentioned that even though we have people like Lalgudi, TNK and Gopalakrishnan who are the top rank accompanists, they could not accompany my Father as they were not front rankers then. So I was curious to know whether Sri Lalgudi had ever accompany my Father for his concert. The following conversation is based on my curiosity)

Sandhya: Sir, please tell me whether you ever played for my Father?

Lalgudi: I am unable to remember. I remember I played for him once but I am not able to narrate where and when. He was very affectionate to me. I used to see him often and he would speak with me very affectionately. I remember playing for him but it is a long time ago. How long was he there?

Sandhya: Up to 76 years.

Lalgudi: Up to which year did he sing?

Sandhya: It was in 60s and may be early 70s

Lalgudi: Yes, it is a long time and I am unable to recollect much. It was here in Madras that I played for him.

Sandhya: I believe you used to visit our house in Giri Street when my Father used to have Friday concerts at home. I was told by my brother that you would play for my Father when he sang on Fridays. Radha - Jayalakshmi and Radha’s parents used to visit also, I believe.

Lalgudi: I am unable to express myself very well. (His wife prompts that should be in 50s).It is all God’s grace. Whose disciple was he?

Sandhya: Tiger’s disciple.

Lalgudi: Did he study in aNNAmalai University?

Sandhya: No, he studied under Tiger in 1935, when Tiger was in Madras University. Then he followed Tiger to aNNAmalai and then to Kalakshetra. He was with Tiger until Tiger passed away.

Lalgudi: (A very appreciative nod). He was a very good singer. He was very passionate about Music. As Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar, he had a very good name.

The Violin is very beautiful – really beautiful. I never saw something like this before. Is it from America?

Sandhya: Yes, I brought specially for you – to give it to you when I visit you.

Then Lalgudi goes to the other room to teach the students. I listened to his teaching, requested his son Krishnan (not that they do not know) not to discourage him in whatever he wanted to do and left with a heavy but full heart. I wish I could stay for his life-time achievement award function at the MMA (Madras Music Academy) on March 09, 2008. Unfortunately I had to leave on March 7, 2008 back to Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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