Kumaresh (Fiddling Monk)
Is a limitless phenomenon whose musical career spanning 50 years has created a paradigm shift in the way the world looks at Indian Violin. Fiddling Monk is a child prodigy who played his first concert when he was just five and became a sensation in the field of Carnatic music by completing his 100th stage performance even before he was 10. He is the youngest violinist to be made the official State artiste Tamil Nadu at the age of 17 by the then Chief Minister, Shri M.G. Ramachandran. He is also the youngest violinist to receive the Tamil Nadu State award, ‘Kalaimamani’ in the year, 1997.
He has performed thousands of concerts in more than 25 countries and several prestigious festivals including the Margazhi December festival – Chennai, Sawai Gandharava, Sangeeth Sammelan, Doverlane festival, Karlsrhue Jazz festival, San Fransisco Jazz Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Celtic connections, Saptak, Queen Elizebeth Hall, London, Walt Disney Auditorium – LA, Lincoln Centre – NY, Theatre de la villa, Paris. He has also collaborated with various world class musicians from different genres in Jugalbandhis and Duets.
Vidwan Kumaresh’s albums with his brother titled “Colors of India”, “Carnatic Chills”, “Manoranjani”, “Spark”, “Bowing with Passion” are all-time favourites amongst his fans. Besides performing, He has also acted and scored music for films and dance productions, including the award-winning film, ‘Lessons in Forgetting’ for which he received the award for best original music score.
He is the recipient of several national and international awards, one of the most important being the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2018 for Carnatic Instrumental Music (Violin), the highest award given in the country to an artiste.
His solo concerts are very unique in its design and presentation, thematic in nature and explorative in experience.
As a composer, his musical insight has opened up a new avenues to explore the artform in general and violin in particular:
- Composed many Krithis, Varnams, thillanas and many only “Raga-based” Melodies (Raga Pravahams)
- Thalapravaham – A first-of-its-kind presentation through compositions, exploring the Saptha-Sooladi Talas and their five variations.
- Melkartha Melodies – to facilitate easy identification of the 72 parent ragas.
- Chocolate Melodies – composed specially for children.
- Introducing new Ragas and Thalams
- Creating violin specific curriculum – scientifically and technically designed original lessons for complete understanding and play of the Indian violin.
An out of box thinker and a philosopher, Kumaresh, fondly known as the Fiddling Monk has redefined the teaching methods and repertoire for the students of violin through his online portal, ‘Bowing with Fiddling Monk’.
