Unsung heroes in the service of music

T

he drone of Tambura is the base upon which Indian classical music is rendered. As the rendition picks up the tempo the other sounds take precedence, relegating the drone to the background.  Yet, it’s the buzzing of the tambura, also called tanpura,  that binds the notes to their respective places.

    

     Like the drone a tambura produces, are the efforts of its makers M Srinivas Rao and C S Anand Rao.  The yeoman service of this father-son duo goes unsung, though it’s an essential part of the music industry.

  

     Based in Hanumanthnagar in Bangalore, the Raos are not only making tamburas but also the much sophisticated stringed instrument the Veena. They are one of a very few makers of stringed classical music instruments in Karnataka.

     Making the veena is a traditional occupation of the Rao family. Srinivas Rao who is into veena making since 1947, migrated to Bangalore from his hometown Chikkahejjaje in Doddaballapur.   “Mine is the fourth generation in this profession of making veenas,” says Anand Rao with a tinge of pride.

      Forty-five year old Anand Rao learnt the nitty-gritty of the craft accompanying his father since his school days.  He is into the trade full time from the last 20 years.

     The veenas and the tamburas made by them have been flown to Germany, France, US, Australia, Singapore and many more countries.  They supply instruments to showrooms too. Though making veena and tambura is their mainstay, they also repair other stringed instruments like mandolin, violin, sitar and guitar.

     The duo has travelled from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari transporting and servicing the veenas.  “I have gone even to a remotest corner in Assam,” claims Anand.  Attending the customers at their doorstep is the USP of the Raos. Anand is mostly travelling supplying and servicing the veena depending upon the need of the clients.  He stays at cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Vishakhapatnam, Mangalore, Sringeri, Shimoga, Madurai, and Rajahmundry for weeks. 

     Rao senior has participated in World Musical Instruments’ Exhibition in the US.  The veenas have taken him to London and Singapore too.  Recognizing this not so common service to the field of music, the Karnataka Government has honoured Srinivas Rao with the Rajyotsava Award.  Both of them are proud to be associated with well-known artistes and music aficionados.

      Srinivas Rao who is in his mid eighties still makes the musical instruments at their home cum workshop from 8 am to 1 pm every day.  While Anand is busy travelling to places, his father and wife Archana look after the business in Bangalore in his absence.

     Most of the carpentry works are outsourced. With all the required materials ready, it takes two days to make a veena, says Rao junior.  The father and the son together make eight to 10 veenas per month.

     Anand has learnt the basics of the classical music as the knowledge of tuning is very essential while making a veena.  A graduate in arts, he did never think of any other profession.  Today Anand Rao is a contented man and has no regrets.

 

(The article was carried by the Spectrum supplement of Deccan Herald on 04/03/2014)