How Rahul Vellal excels in music and academics

Bengaluru teen singing sensation Rahul Vellal has returned from a concert tour of the US to good news — he has secured an outstanding 99% in his second PUC exams (science stream).

Ravishankar Vellal and Hema Suryanarayana, his parents, are flooded with questions about how he could do exceptionally well in academics while also accomplishing so much professionally in classical music. 

"Discipline was the fourth family member in our house," says Ravishankar, who accompanied Rahul, a child prodigy in music, on a 10-city tour of the US where his shows were sold out.

"I completely stayed away from distractions on the mobile phone and social media, choosing instead to focus entirely on my academics and music," Rahul, 17, says. Consistent, focused effort every day creates a far greater impact than sporadic bursts of intensity, he believes.

Rahul spends at least two hours a day on his vocal practice. He also plays the mridangam, but has paused practising it for a while. He enjoys playing the piano and switches to it whenever he feels like taking a break.

Ravishankar and Hema were full-time IT professionals, but when they discovered Rahul’s talent when he was just two, they decided they would do whatever it takes to nurture it.

Rahul's talent grew under the mentorship of well-known gurus. He began at the age of four with Suchetan Rangaswamy. This was followed by training under the vocalist Kalavathy Avadhoot. For five years and a half, he has been under the guidance of Ranjani and Gayatri. He was also mentored by Kuldeep M Pai for a music series.

Soon after completing his 10th board exams, Rahul enrolled at RV PU College in Jayanagar, fully aware of the rigorous academic challenges ahead. He knew that balancing his passion for music with academics would not be easy.

There were times when concerts coincided with exams, and he had to sacrifice sleep and study during travel. Rahul recalls returning from international concerts in the early hours of the morning, only to head to college a few hours later for an exam. Looking back, he feels deeply satisfied that his consistent routine enabled him to manage the two worlds effectively. Vacations and social events took a backseat. 

After his state board PUC exams, Rahul embarked on a concert tour titled 'Voice of the Soul'. He received standing ovations in packed auditoriums across the US.

"Don't delegate your child's upbringing to gadgets or schools," Ravishankar says, adding, "Children don't just need resources — they need your time and involvement to discover their strengths."