After 23 years in Los Angeles (1973 to 1996), he chose to move to Bangalore, because he and his family fell in love with the city. Violinist Dr L Subramaniam and his wife, singer Kavita Krishnamurti and their children Narayana, Seetaa and Ambi,  Bangalore is home.  As Dr Subramaniam puts it, “ it has everything, there’s a theatre festival going on somewhere, a poetry reading somewhere else and there’s a variety of music. It is very rich culturally.”

Although Dr Subramaniam travels a lot on shows, he ” looks forward to coming home to Bangalore,” and as for Kavita, who goes to Mumbai two to three times a week on work, “as long as I know I am coming home to Bangalore, I can take it.”

 Dr Subramaniam and his family tested out whether Bangalore would suit them by living in temporary rented homes in Basavangudi, after which he bought a pre-built constructed house in Dollars colony in RMV Stage II. But their house was far from perfect. Says Dr. Subramaniam,  “When we came to see it, we found that the gate had fallen and the wall had collapsed too. So we set about rebuilding it. ” The roof leaked and the basement filled up with water and it took time to set it all right. But today it is the family home, ethnic and traditional. A jhoola occupies pride of place in the centre of the sitting room -- on which Dr Subramaniam often takes a nap.  
  
With both Narayana and Seetaa having studied in the Ramaiah colleges -- Narayana his medicine and Seetaa her law and Ambi slated to go there, after his school - their home is ideally suited for the family.

 Peaceful and away from the hustle-bustle of the city, so much so, that they “hate going into the city and travel out only when we have to go to the airport,” as  Seetaa puts it.   

Dr Subramaniam chose Bangalore also for other reasons. He had major plans to build a global institute for music in the city, where musicians from around the world would form part of the faculty. Workshops, seminars and encouraging young and promising talent were all part of the plans. Although Dr Subramaniam says he is disllusioned with the apathy shown by successive governments, with no help forthcoming from them, he still hopes to go ahead with his dream of setting up the institution with the help of friends and fund raising tours.
Start him on the apathy of governments to the arts and Dr Subramaniam takes off on how Indian festivals abroad promote only North Indian musicians, with only a token presence of South Indian musicians. “In fact the governments of the south should get together and promote their own India festivals abroad, so that south Indian musicians from each state are represented. And they shouldn’t repeat an artiste for say three years, so that everyone gets a chance.”

According to him even private concerts and shows promote North Indian artistes in favour of South Indian artistes. “The same 4/ 5 big names are called, they never promote young artistes either. Take folk music for instance, nobody promotes them. Many folk artistes are either carpenters, or work in call centres. if this continues their art will die in 20 years.” 

In Visions of India to be held on October 27 at Palace grounds, Dr Subramaniam is promoting several folk artistes  from all parts of India.  So there will be the Dollu Kunita from Karnataka, the Chendai from Kerala and Dholak from the North, besides Baul from Bengal, Langa from Rajasthan and Punjabi Folk and Sufi Music.


Cultural fusion through music
The “Vision of India” concert will be held at Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, on October 27th.  Different traditional styles including Hindustani Classical, Carnatic, Bollywood,Ghazal, Baul (folk from Bengal), Langa (folk from Rajasthan), Punjabi folk and Sufi music and fusion are being showcased together. The concert incorporates different styles of music from different parts of the country. It is arranged with both-modern and traditional instruments and includes traditional percussion from different parts of India.The chief guests are S. M. Krishna, governor of Maharashtra and Bala Gandhara Swamiji. The show hopes to raise funds for 300 ambulances for CTC Sanjeevini.

The unique feature of the concert is Dr. Subramaniam's specially written composition which will feature different artistes from around the country, showcasing each artiste's individualism and special flavour. These include - Dr L. Subramaniam, Pankaj Udhas, Kavita Krishnamurti, Gangubai Hangal,  Dr M. Balamuralikrishna,  Purna Das Baul Samrat, Dipyendu Das Baul,Sikander Langa, Atta Mohammad Langa, Asin Khan Langa, Wadali Brothers, Bindu Seetaa Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam. The climax of the composition interweaves Dr. Subramaniam's playing with the voices of India - singing a “patriotic salute to India” to mark 60 years of Indian independence. Passes are available at Planet M and Gaurda Mall. For further information contact: 2351 5622 / 65677774 / 98450 10626.

JM