For Karthik, it’s music over cricket

The son of famous violinist Mysore M Nagaraj is keeping the family tradition alive

Mysore Karthik, son and disciple of violinist Mysore M Naragaj, is a well-known violinist who made a mark in the Carnatic music industry at a young age. He has been playing the violin since the age of eight and is among the youngest musicians in India to be awarded an A grade from All India Radio and Doordarshan.

Karthik, who is associated with percussion ensemble ‘Layatharanga’ and Carnatic jazz group ‘Saagara’, has toured and performed in various countries like Qatar, Denmark and Germany.

In a candid conversation with Metrolife, he talks about his musical journey and his memories of being taught under legendary musicians.

Your grandfather and father were your music gurus. How was it to have a guru under the same roof?

My grandfather was the one who taught me vocals and the violin. Having a guru under the same roof was not that bad since I would get their undivided attention which helped me get better at my craft. However, my grandfather was very strict. Every evening, he would expect me to recite whatever was taught during the morning session. Still, I kind of enjoyed being taught by such maestros.

Was music really your calling or did you take it up just to continue the legacy?

Knowingly or unknowingly, music became a part of my life at a very young age. Initially, I was interested in cricket; I even thought of considering it as a career option. Initially, I managed to balance both my interests but later on I had to make a choice since I used to be too tired to play the violin after practising cricket. I ended up choosing music as I realised that was my true calling. I still play cricket when I am free.

While growing up, did you face pressure to match the standards set by your grandfather, father, and uncle?

When I started learning, there was no pressure. But once I started giving concerts, there were a lot of expectations that I had to fulfil. Meeting the standards was a task indeed.

Any inspirational figure that you look up to?

My father is my inspiration, both as a musician and a human being — the way he carries himself and his humble nature. He is the main reason for my success.

What kind of music do you listen to?

I love exploring different genres of music and listen to everything from Carnatic to Western. In Carnatic, I like listening to artists like MS Gopalakrishnan, Lalgudi Jayaraman and S Kalyanaraman. Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Nikhil Banerjee are some of my favourites in Hindustani music.

When was your first solo performance? How did it feel?

My first performance was when I was ten years old. I had no idea how big a deal it was to perform in front of an audience back then. I was just acting as I was told. I think we all lose that innocence as we grow up.

Lastly, any advice to budding artistes?

Practice is the key to success. Also, learn the basics properly. Only if the basics are strong can you think of achieving something.