Hailing from a family of connoisseurs and performers of music, understandably led to exposure to music at a very early age for Nithya Rajendran. She has not looked back since, as music progressively carved a deep niche in her voice and heart. Music has retained a very special place in her life notwithstanding various other pursuits and achievements, including securing qualifications in Economics and Mass Communication, working with leading advertising agencies for many years and pursuing an active career in photography.
Nithya has over thirty years of learning behind her. She is a versatile classical vocalist who has had intensive training in both styles - Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. She has many accolades and performances to her credit. Her deep passion for music has now expanded from performing to educating through teaching and workshops, and also to exploring the therapeutic and spiritual potential of Indian classical music.
In a conversation with Mumbai Live, Nithya takes us through her journey, challenges faced during lockdown and how has she kept with Indian traditional music in the modern era with Music Vruksh.
Can you tell us in brief about your journey?
Music has been in my family for generations, so it came as a natural by-product of being in an environment of music. In addition, I grew up with parents who loved and encouraged the art form and in a school that laid tremendous emphasis on music, dance and theatre. All of these things resulted in wide exposure to state and national level competitions, prizes and awards at a reasonably early age. It also gave me stage exposure and confidence pretty early on. I was also lucky to be trained under many prominent and illustrious gurus which continues even today. I can call all this a combination of luck, grace, love and support of family and hard work.
What inspired you to start Music Vruksh?
Music Vruksh is a venture I founded six years ago which combines my personal and first level experiences with both music and spirituality. Having started with the mostest beginnings, it is now making foray into many avenues. We have many batches of online classes running in India and overseas. I am also very actively writing about different uses of Indian classical music in everyday life in different magazines and publications. My online live concerts on social media are an ongoing feature and are accessible to a world-wide audience. Music Vruksh is also currently in collaboration with three online platforms which offer music appreciation and music for wellness workshops to individuals and corporates.
In the modern era, where people are more into Bollywood and western music and dances, what motivates you to stick to the Indian traditional music?
Because of its deep spiritual underpinnings, Indian Classical Music has enormous emotive and therapeutic potential making it highly relevant for today's generation. My venture Music Vruksh is looking to demystify and make accessible, many aspects of Indian Classical music that may be beneficial to the lay person. Its powerful aesthetic and emotive potential and its wide appearance in popular culture through raaga-based Bollywood and folk songs, allows a kind of accessibility that no other austere art form enjoys. We try to deliver classical music to people in whatever package best suits them.
During lockdown, many people tried their hands on hobbies, how many people did you come across? How did you help them inculcate the love for classical music?
Countless people have reached out to us. Many parents who want children to get back to our musical roots, some non-profit and other philanthropic platforms that want to use music to help people. Many distressed individuals who want to access music for its calming and meditative uses, art platforms which want to increase the reach of classical music among others. Music has been now accessed for various purposes this lockdown, more than ever before. This is very heartening to see. We inculcate the appreciation for this form by making music relevant to their lives and by making it relatable and fun.
What challenges did you face during the pandemic, especially when things were shifted to online from offline?
For me, I would say the world has opened up with the pandemic both in terms of people who reach out to music and in terms accessibility because of the internet having become the default platform for work. Now we are a robust initiative that runs classes work‐ shops and concerts all online. We are pleased with the way our work has expanded both in depth and width.
What message would like to give to the young talents to keep them rooted to classical music?
Young middle aged or old, I think people overall should wake up to the potential of music, especially Indian Classical music, to please their heart and transform their minds and bodies. There cannot be an easier way to access that blissful and peaceful place that we are all searching for in our lives. When one is in union with music and divine creative force. I would tell your readers to open their ears and hearts to Indian Classical music and give it a chance to transform them.
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