Carnatic vocalist, Prof. Somasundaram Venkateswaran
Juggling a career as adjunct senior lecturer at the Open University of Malaysia and visiting professor at various institutes of higher learning and universities locally and overseas, with his passion for Carnatic singing, comes naturally for Professor Somasundram Venkateswaran.
An intrinsic love for Carnatic music gives the 61-year-old vocalist who is also treasurer of the Building Management Association of Malaysia and a corporate adviser, the energy to use his teaching breaks to fly off almost every month spanning the globe, to fulfill the slots on his year round performance circuit.
The great outpouring of bliss enjoyed by the gentle professor can be seen in the eloquent dance gestures his large expressive hands and head go through during his stage performances be it in rendering the heavy Pancaratna Kirthis of Saint Thiagaraja or singing a folksy Kavadi Sindhu. His facial expressions also go through a gamut of emotions as he relishes the nuances of the soulful songs.
Widely popular on the global Carnatic arena in India, Western countries and Asia, Venkateswaran who received his early training under his Carnatic singer mother and his later guru Dr. S. Ramanathan of India must lament the lack of singing opportunities in Malaysia.
I only managed to get a glimpse of his singing thanks to his personal invitation to attend a Rama Navami function at the Brahmin Samaj at Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur recently.
There is a dire need to organise more performing platforms for maestro’s like Prof Venkateswaran who is also an accomplished Indian classical violinist, to promote the highly refined art of Carnatic singing in Malaysia.
R. Sittamparam
Dear Mr. Sittamparam
Thank you very much for the wonderful write-up on my academic-cum-musical career. I am overwhelmed, and I hope I truly deserve the accolades offered in this article of yours.
All these have been made possible by my wonderful parents, my music gurus, particularly my first music guru, my beloved mother Srimathi Sulochana Somasundaram. It is with their guidance and encouragement that I have able to take at least a few baby into the vast, limitless world of music.
I thank Lord Siva for having blessed me with the opportunity to perform Indian Classical Music in places of worship and seek His grace.
Shri Gurubhyo Namaha.
Sincerely
S. Venkateswaran
You deserve more prof. Your dedication to Carnatic music is a rare gem in this world where everyone is caught up in the rat race. It is by highlighting the achievements of fine examples like yourself that will keep the tradition alive for the coming generations. Prof I am now working on the piece `Conversation with a Carnatic Musician’. Thanks for the biodata.
A superb synopsis..
He is a great rasika of carnatic music.
With blessings of his guru.his mother smt sulochana.he has ingested.all the music he has heard ..an ardent follower of music festivals.
And now presenting them in his own style..full of bhava and devotion.
Correction: Paragraph 2, Line 3: “A few baby steps…”
S. Venkateswaran
A well narrated article to portray Prof. Venkateswaran’s master skills in the Indian Carnatic field- both as a Vocalist and a violinist.. We Malaysians are proud to have one like him in our circle. God Bless him more.
Looking forward to your Albums!