JOIN USU Rajesh is one of the most sought after classical artistes in India, having played with the who’s who of the Indian musical industry as well as global stalwarts; the list includes names like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Louiz Banks, Ranjit Barot, Mike Marshall, multi percussionists Sivamani and Pete Lockett, Karsh Kale and Greg Ellis. The brother of the legendary Mandolin U Shrinivas, U Rajesh has also given concerts in Australia, the Middle-East, America and Europe. The youngest participant of the ‘Magic Mandolin Festival’ in Germany in the ’80s, he also performed at other prestigious such as the Lincoln Center in New York as well as with Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and KNZ Philharmonic Orchestra. Another feather in the cap of this mandolin star was a Grammy nomination for an album ‘Floating Point’ in which he collaborated with Maestro John McLaughlin.
Inspiration
U Shrinivas
“My greatest source of inspiration is my guru and brother U Shrinivas, whom I had grown up listening to. He was nine years older to me and was the one who hand-held me and led me into the world of music. As a child, I used to see him do ‘riyaz’ for almost 12-14 hours daily and was greatly inspired by his dedication and devotion to music. This sowed the seed for my
musical imagination.”
Musician
Itzhak Perlman
“I am a huge admirer of Itzhak Perlman — an Israeli-American violinist. I admire his brilliant technique, direct interpretation and precision in music. And, of course, my interest in music is due to my brother, who was immensely talented, and he will always remain on the top of my list of favourite musicians.”
Movie
Inception
“I am a movie buff and enjoy watching all kinds of movies, especially adventure movies with a hint of mystery or suspense. I make it a point to take some time out to watch movies occasionally. ‘Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark’ is my all-time favourite. Recently, I watched ‘Inception’ and was mesmerised by the story and the brilliantly acted-out characters.”
Food
South Indian cuisine
“I am a foodie and I love South Indian cuisine. Good food absolutely rejuvenates you. I am a pure vegetarian and love Karnataka and Tamil Nadu cuisines. In that, I prefer my breakfast Tamil style but would wish my lunch to be prepared in the authentic Karnataka style. Generally, I like my food to be a little non-spicy and like experimenting with different combinations.”
Travel
Vatican City
“Travelling has been part of my life and my favourite travel destination is Europe. I adore culturally-rich places and this continent definitely tops the list. The culture of Europe is rooted in art, architecture, music, literature and philosophy and this appeals to me and lets me unravel the history behind these beautiful spots. I especially love visiting Vatican City.”
(As told to Rajitha Menon)