ARCOT MUDALI STREET- (April 1986)
The gate creaked open and I stepped inside the compound. It was a small compound space in front of an old independent house. A small boy of 5 or 6 was running around, naked. He ran to evade his mother who was holding a bowl of food. She ran screaming behind the boy, admonishing him and trying to feed him. Oblivious to the chaos, an old woman sat on the door-step, her head bent over a large plate of some grains on her lap which she was cleaning.
I wondered if Sri. T.M.Thyagarajan lived there.
Clearing my voice I started to ask, "T.M.Thyaga..."
My words stuck in my throat as the harrassed looking mother without even looking in my direction raised a hand to point upwards. Her entire focus was on the boy. Following the direction of her raised hand I looked up to the first floor. There was a house there, but where were the stairs to go upstairs?!
Afraid to ask her one more time I decided to look around for the staircase. I self consciously walked towards the left side of the front yard and to my utter relief found a tiny staircase in the corner.
My heart raced excitedly as I climbed the staircase slowly. Reaching the house on the first floor I glanced at my watch.
It was 4 pm, exact time of appointment fixed by Narendran for meeting TMT Sir. I was glad that I was on dot.
The main door was wide open. I stood uncertainly in the doorway as my eyes adjusted to the dull sunlight in the front room.
I found myself staring directly at the figure of the legendary composer/ singer, Sri.T.M.Thyagarajan seated on the floor. He wore a white colour veshti without a shirt. A white towel was casually thrown around his shoulders.
He lifted his head and glanced at me. The first thing that struck me was his eyes, the twinkle in them. The twinkle spoke volumes of his characteristic aloofness born out of tremendous amount of wisdom, self-assurance, extraordinary willpower and his awareness of his own genius mind. That was my first glimpse of the man who was about to change my life through his brand of music.
I folded my hands in Namasthey. He gestured towards the wall opposite to him. Entering nervously I noticed that the room was bare of furniture. I sank to sit down on the floor in front of TMT Sir.
He didn't talk anything and looked at me expectantly.
I started hesitatingly, "Narendran told me..."
He cut me short, "Yes Narendran met me and told me."
Not knowing how to open the topic I said, "I am Gayathri, a veena player..."
"I know. You are well known as Veenai Gayathri", he said with a touch of amusement.
I smiled nervously, "Yes, but of late I am not happy with what I am playing. I took a break from music for almost 5, 6 years for personal reasons. I got married, went sailing with my husband who works in ships, I had 2 daughters who are 5 and 2 years old now.'
He nodded, watching me keenly, the twinkle in his eyes brightening by the minute.
I continued with effort, "Now I want to start playing Veena again. I am also getting many offers to perform. But I don't know what to play.....I mean, I feel kind of stuck here." I pointed to my head.
I continued, "Actually I am unable to create. I am feeling rusted without music for nearly 6 years. I need your guidance, please help me...." my voice trailed off.
Nodding in understanding he bent his head, absently reaching for his snuff box. Opening the box he took out the snuff powder and inhaled it deeply into his nostrils.
Slowly raising his head he said tentatively, "You mean you want to learn from me."
I nodded fervently, "Yes."
"Is there any specific area of music you want to learn?"
I shook my head, "I want to get to the bottom of music, I want to be able to create. I want to graduate to great levels in my musical knowledge."
He nodded. "Are you in touch with your instrument?"
"Yes Sir. In fact my hands can play anything, problem is that I don't know what to play. My mind is kind of stuck."
"So you want to start your regular classes with me. How will you learn? Do you sing?'
My eyes widened in horror, "No no I can't sing. I will repeat whatever you sing on Veena."
"But then, will you bring your Veena for every class?"
I asked hesitatingly, "Please can I keep a Veena in your house? It is difficult for me to carry it for every class".
He agreed immediately indicating a corner of the small room. "You can keep it here."
"Thank you so much!!" I said fervently.
Glancing at me directly TMT Sir said, "You must learn and abide by my method of teaching, you are already well known. Will you be able to do that?"
I replied emphatically, "I will follow your teachings most loyally Sir. I will learn whatever you feel is right to open up my creative channels."
He smiled and nodded.
"What is your Sruthi?" I asked hesitatingly. "I need to change my Veena strings to your Sruthi for my classes."
He replied, "C."
I mentally zeroed in on Veena string gauge number 29 for the main string.
Fixing up 9 am on April 18th for my first class I rose to leave.
Prostrating to him I took leave of him.
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