Carnatic Musician, Aishwarya Srinivas

My journey began even before my first spoken words.

Tell us about your musical journey?

I had an innate love for music and natural instinct to vocalize the music that I heard without even being taught. My formal tutelage commenced at the age of ten under the legendary musician Padma Vibhushan D.K. Pattammal. She is hailed as one of the greatest musicians of all time, a trailblazer who laid the foundations for the musical tradition. Learning from her made me the inheritor of an esteemed legacy very few can claim. When I joined her tutelage, I did not have the slightest inkling how much her association was going to change my life or that I would take up music as my profession. I have had the unique opportunity to have received guidance from other remarkable musicians such as Padma Bhushan awardees R.K.Srikantan and P.S. Narayanswamy, and Chevalier Dr. M.Balamuralikrishna, each leaving an indelible mark on my style and repertoire. From giving my first public concert at about 12 years to performing over a thousand concerts at many prestigious venues, making a name for myself, it is a very humbling feeling, especially as someone who came from a very modest background where becoming a performing musician was something unimaginable.

The last 20 years have been a golden era - the voyage of a young girl who found her calling in music. I owe deep gratitude to my gurus and audiences, without whom this would not have been possible. Their blessings empower me to carry forward an illustrious lineage.

The Meeting with DK Pattammal and her accepting you as a disciple...share the details? Any beautiful memories?