Violinist cheers bankers with his high notes

Bankers, for whom change has been the scarce after demonetisation, got a big dose of it recently. For the hassled staff of the Karnataka Bank branch in JP Nagar, their lunch break last week was not just a respite from answering angry customers, but a surprise violin recital dedicated just for them.

Aneesh Vidyashankar, known as the only “wireless, walking violinist”, and Monjyoti Bhattacharya with his guitar, stormed into the bank with his troupe and belted out some popular Kannada and Hindi numbers, as the pleasantly surprised staff watched and tapped their feet. The glum mood in the bank was transformed as the floor turned into a rock stage.

“When I visited a bank recently, I noticed an officer working tirelessly with a cup of coffee on his desk. When I reminded him that his coffee was growing cold, he shot back asking me how he could sip coffee when he had no time to count cash,” says Aneesh, who was then inspired to do something for the uncomplaining bankers.

“I got permission from the manager for the performance, but planned to surprise the staff,” says Aneesh, who has to his credit, performances around the world. “The government has taken the decision on demonetisation, there’s no point complaining about it now. The performance was aimed at easing the pain for the harassed bankers,” says Aneesh, who added that the bankers told him they relished their lunch better as he made them “eat to his beat”.

Aneesh, who recently dedicated a concert to pouraka-rmikas, plans such events at more banks. He will also perform at the wedding of Sandalwood stars Yash and Radhika Pandit on December 10. He also has a concert lined up on December 18 to raise funds in association with People Tree hospital to provide free treatment to 300 patients.