CHENNAI: What could be the possible connection between commerce and Kamboji? As opposite as chalk and cheese? Not much of a connect for the average reader.
Except that a classical pianist, two Carnatic singers and a guitarist went through the unlikely grind of doing a B.Com degree.
Statistics, economics and accounting were studied only to be discarded as they segued into superb musicians and composers.
I am talking about Anil Srinivasan, Sikkil Gurucharan, Sanjay Subramaniam and Vedanth Bharadwaj.
Whaaaat? No way! You may exclaim in disbelief but university records speak for themselves.
All four extraordinary talents actually pored over pages of Trading Transactions and Food Grain policies while dreaming of Chopin, Papanasam Sivam, Sindu Bhairavi and the RTP (ragam, tanam, pallavi) Ask them and they will say that all samatthu (obedient) Brahmin boys made a beeline for this degree at a Mylapore college so their parents would not grumble. B.Com was the only way to satisfy middle class values. So then, how did the creative gene manifest itself in the maze of Agricultural Policy and Trade Union systems? Did Business Taxation carry the subtext of a dreamy Bharavi raga alapana? Anil wears music and management like twin epaulets on his slender shoulders with élan. Marketing, Mozart and Mohanam weave effortlessly within his cre- ative DNA and coexist without collision. While he pursues both careers, it is his music, especially the collaborations with Gurucharan, that have moved many. As for the superb Sanjay, he even went as far as qualifying as a chartered accountant before the arohanam of Todi lured him away from books to theatres. Dimpled Gurucharan's voice is acquiring cult status faster than the scroll of the stock exchange ticker tape. Quiet Vedanth, simply twanged his guitar, set up a home studio and welcomed famous names within its humble precincts to create several best selling labels.
So, while all four hire B.Com graduates on their payrolls, it seems that studying Dikshitar, Strauss and Mirabai are better for the financial bottom line than mere number crunching!