Mangalore: Veena Players from City Set for Guinness Record Attempt
 
Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Mar 26: About 50 veena players from Mangalore are all set to get their names registered in the Limca and World Guinness Book of Records at the ‘Sahasra Veena Jhenkara’ programme to be held at Palace Grounds, Bangalore, on Wednesday March 28.

There will be a record 1,008 performers playing the veena from various parts of the state, for a record time. Vaniraj, a teacher who has been taking veena classes from the past nine years at her Shree Vani Veena Vidhya Kendra in Kadri, gave a last day practice session on Sunday March 25. She said that her students include those in the age group of 13 to 63.

What makes Vaniraj different from others is that she has ‘online’ students whom she teaches the veena. She uses online chat messengers like Skype among others to teach her students in Bangalore and Mysore. She said that she had purchased CDs of wedding bells and temple bells music of Vidhwan Chitti Babu and started teaching students to play the veena.

“There are some instances where students have been found to have a genuine interest in learning to play the veena and they have been trained without being charged any fees, with the institution providing them with the instruments,” said Vaniraj.
 
She also recalled the initial difficult days where she had to struggle to find students. However, after organizing workshops and programmes people got to know about the veena classes and starting joining out of interest.
 
Asked about how she got into this art, Vaniraj said that her father S V Venkateshaiah was teaching veena at the Shree Vani Sangeetha Vidyalaya in Bangalore started in 1953. Vaniraj also proudly said that she had made her students play veena to the tune of ‘Endalo Mahanubhavalo’ a renowned composition in ‘Pancharathna Keerthane’ of Thyagarajam.

She also fondly recalled her teachers R K Shreenivas Murthy and R K Suryanarayan who taught her veena in Bangalore at the age of 16. Vaniraj also has the credit of incorporating the veena in Yakshagana and Bharathanatyam art.
 
Asked about the poor response to the art of playing traditional musical instruments in Mangalore, she admitted the fact and said that the mentality of the people towards art should improve and the satisfaction she got from learning and savoring the art is not explainable in words.

“Nothing can replace this satisfaction. Before any other neighbouring states grab the opportunity of getting into world records, our Karnataka should make it,” she said and added that the Palace Ground programme would have 1,008 performers from various parts of the state playing the veena. Rajani Kala Kendra and Art of Living are jointly organizing this event. They will all play the tune ‘Vathapi Ganapathim Bhajeham’ on that day.
 
Vaniraj told her students to practice more on the last day as they are leaving for Bangalore on Tuesday March 27. Vaniraj can be contacted at 8880558610. Her classes take place at Shree Vani Veena Vidya Kendra, Opposite Koddhabbu Temple, near Kadri Arch.