'Everyone should learn humility and kindness from Mandolin Srinivas'

‘Each time we met, I was moved by his humility and simplicity. He has accomplished so much but he remained so simple and considered himself a student.’

Well-known Carnatic singer Sikkil Gurucharan pays tribute to Mandolin Srinivas, who passed into the ages at the young age of 45.

I have known Mandolin Srinivas from the age of eight, from the day I started listening to good music. It was in 2005 that we first met, when he came to one of my concerts in Chennai. Anil Srinivasan and I were giving a performance together in a new format. Srinivasji was the first guest to arrive and he was very appreciative of our efforts. He told us that the sound we created was new and that we should continue doing so.

That was one of the great qualities of his; he enjoyed and appreciated music irrespective of who was behind it. He never hesitated to appreciate the music of even youngsters like me. I used to idolise Srinivasji and I never expected him to attend our concert, stay till the end and then come to talk to us. I feel all of us should learn humility and kindness from him.

Then, I also had a chance to work with him in the album Miles from India because of John McLaughlin, the guitarist. He wanted to record with all of us for an album. The recording was in Srinivasji's studio in his house. It was an informal recording session where we exchanged a lot of ideas. That meeting again was an experience I can never forget. That track got nominated for the Grammy Awards.

Each time we met, I was moved by his humility and simplicity. He has accomplished so much but he remained so simple and considered himself a student.

The last time I met him was recently, at a function which both of us attended. One thing I will never forget was the way he greeted. It was always with folded hands that he greeted everyone and not raising his hands to say, hello. I always wanted to learn humility from him.

He never considered himself a legend or a prodigy that he was.  He welcomed everyone with that wonderful smile of his. He came into the limelight so early and was the youngest recipient of the Padma Shri. He was supported by legendary musicians at a very young age itself. God also wanted him to go back early.

It was very unfortunate that he left us so early. Though we came to know about his ill-health, I somehow believed that he would come out of the situation because of the power of music. Maybe he has gone to a better place.

Image: Mandolin Srinivas. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj.

Sikkil Gurucharan spoke to Shobha Warrier.