Analyzing the genius of Violin-maestro L. Subramaniam makes you wonder about the man’s amazing versatility. A trained M.B.B.S. doctor, a post-graduate in Western Classical music, a composer for films like Salam Bombay and a world- renowned violinist who has performed with so many legendary musicians and leading orchestras – Subramaniam’s real talent lies in the ingenious way he has fused Carnatic Classical style with Western Jazz and Classical styles creating a sound that is as Universal as it is Indian.

Taking the opportunity of his upcoming concert in Dubai, I painstakingly track Dr. Subramaniam on his cell-phone and while traveling in a car, he talks about his life and career. Here are the excerpts of the interview:

You come from an eminent musical family. Tell us about your grooming in music.

My father- Prof.V.Laxminarayana and my mother- V.Seethalaxmi- both great Carnatic classical music exponents, were the driving forces behind my decision to become a musician. When I was just two, my father found that I was repeating musical notes to perfection and initially I was trained to be a vocalist. Diphtheria- a severe childhood illness that threatened my voice, finally put paid to those aspirations.

My father- an expert violinist himself, then introduced me to violin. I was just six, when he made me perform at a major music festival- even against the reluctant organizer’s wishes and that performance was hailed by the critics.

My father wanted to change the status of violin in Carnatic music from just being an accompanying instrument to being a solo instrument and his innovative experimentation in that respect paved the way for my success.

The complexity and beauty of Bach’s music attracted me towards Western Classical music and after finishing my M.B.B.S., I went to California and competed Master’s degree in Western Classical music. Even in this decision, it was my father who guided me and supported me all the way.

Oh, there are so many to choose from but the most cherished ones will be my performances with legendary artistes like Yehudi Menuhi and Stephane Grappeli and when Zubin Mehta’s New York Philharmonic Orchestra performed my composition Fantasy On Vedic Chants. Then there was the Berlin Opera (Global Symphony), the live concert of which was broadcast simultaneously over 28 nations for millions of people.

I completed my medical education from Madras Medical College. This M.B.B.S. degree was achieved at my mother’s insistence who wanted me to keep other career-options also open. But after turning a full- time musician, I never had enough time to practice medicine. Ten months of the year, I am traveling all over the globe performing in various concerts and music- festivals and the rest of the time is spent in composing new tunes.