Dressed in a multi-coloured salwar-kameez, Jyotsna Srikanth looked like a girl next door until she played A R Rahman’s popular composition Dil Se Re from the movie Dil Se, in collaboration with the London-based Bollywood Brass Band. Her performance at the recent Diwali Mela in Manchester, the UK left the audience awestruck.Europe’s most sought-after British-Indian violinist, Srikanth’s love for the instrument began at the age of four.
“During my formative years, many male musicians refused to share the stage with me because I was a budding violinist in Carnatic music. But now I put my foot down in any such situation,” says the artist and a former medical practitioner, who hails from Bengaluru.
The journey wasn’t a cake walk and she had no godfather to support her in the highly-competitive world. But she dared to follow her dream.
“My mother, Ratna Srikantaiah, a Carnatic musician, has been my main inspiration. I started learning Carnatic vocal music from her,” says the 44-year-old recipient of fellowship for Carnatic music from Trinity College of Music, London.At the age of six, she saw the performance of violin legend Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, which inspired her to take up the string instrument. She made her professional debut at the age of nine. During her learning years, she would practice for six hours daily and attend concerts in the evenings.
“In those days, children from South Indian families weren’t encouraged to listen to any kind of music except Carnatic classical music,” says, Jyotsna who lives in London with her husband and two children.
She quit her practice as a doctor in 2007 to pursue a full-time career in music. She has played violin for more than 200 soundtracks of South Indian movies and worked for music directors like Ilaiyaraaja.
How does she maintain work-life balance? “I’ve a supportive family. My husband has the flexibility of working from home. Hence, it works out well when I am on a tour.”
Her ability to explore the crossover between Indian classical music and other genres, including Irish folk, flamenco, jazz, pop, and blues has made her the most versatile musician. Jyotsna is also the founder and curator of London International Arts Festival.