A Bengaluru Moment

A Bengaluru Moment

July 2015

Sometimes when you least expect it, music comes to your doorstep – 

One temperate afternoon, I get off the sofa to the strains of music. Standing outside the gate is a man of medium build with what looks like a glammed up bull. He plays his woodwind/reed instrument-the Nadaswaram, while his four-legged arm candy looks on.

The animal in actuality is a cow guised as a bull with a faux hump. Female empowerment, the domesticated cow, works outside the home, although in gender anonymity. Her name is Lakshmi for the goddess of prosperity.

His name is Channabasavaiah, and he knows how to play several ragas; Shankarabharanam, Kambhoji, Jayanthashree –  here he is playing BhagyadaLakhsmi baarama, in Madhyamavathi. When asked if I could videotape him, he happily agrees.

So I use my smart device to record, but unfortunately it has run out of memory. So I get my laptop camera to record. It’s going to be awkward.

He begins to play, then stops. “The gate,” he interjects. I realize the wrought iron gate is in the way and stop recording. The sun also does not help with the recording. I accidentally stand by while it’s time to record.  So he obliges again with another rendition. Sweet music flows from him spontaneously at every take. I’m the one who needs retakes!

Life’s golden moments are like finding little veins of gold on a rock . When you least expect it, you find them. I could sit in a VVIP seat at my favorite singer’s live performance, and hope the pleasure would be the same as this one.

The sweet, timeless melody is a heard one, but the unknown piper only makes it sweeter.

For a few rupees and a couple of bananas for Lakshmi, he plays for supper everyday. This is one time I’m happy to pay the piper.