I created my channel "Maruthi Pavan Pvr" on YouTube on Feb 15th 2014. I had no idea that I would start singing and I will take it seriously. Before that a brief on how God blessed me with music right from the start.
My GrandPa was a great Carnatic musician of his times. My Dad is a nice singer and he picked up a lot from my GrandPa. Me and my sister both learnt some basics from my dad as kids. School days I won a few prizes in singing, but didn't pursue it further in high school, so I was just a participant and not a winner in the high school competitions. During college days I used to sing a lot in the bus and with friends. Ilayaraja, AR Rehman, Kishore Da, SP Balu, Lata - All were favorites. In the Final year of B.E I won the 3rd Prize among 3 colleges. That too didn't motivate me to pursue singing. I used to just enjoy singing and friends used to enjoy it. Rangeela was a fav album. Its music inspired me to be a university topper. During Masters IISc, Bangalore had a music room with an old gramaphone. I used to go and listen to hindi film music there on evenings. My favorite song was - "Humne Dekhi Hai" from Khamoshi pictured on Waheeda Rehman ji. I used to play it daily. Interestingly none used to visit that room. Only me. So I could play songs of my choice.
I Got My First Job too through singing. It was TCS interview. I walked in and they asked me to sing a song (yes you heard it right). I sang a Kishore Kumar Song loud - "Musaafir Hoon Yaaron". All the interviewers and interviewees from adjacent cubicles got up and started looking at me. I didnt stop. My interviewer himself was in shock and then was happy with my confidence. He said I am selected. It stays a joke till date that I was not asked technical questions, but got selected through singing. But that was a blessing and gift by God in the form of music. I didnt join TCS. Later I did get selected technically in Infosys which was a craze at that time. So yes it was a technically deserving selection in the end :)
While working in Infosys, Bangalore I started learning Carnatic Music from Smt Lalgudi Rajya Laxmi, sister of famous violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman. She was fond of me and used to give me food and took care of me when I wasnt well. But after six months I wanted a lot of progress. My uncle who was a great carnatic musician listened to my singing and said that your voice does not have the gamaks (modulations) yet. Didn't your teacher teach them yet? I was dis-heartened with his words. I thought that she is not teaching me well. In six months I was expecting results when music is a life time learning. I left the class. Then again joined it. She had a pained look on her face when I re-joined. But I again left the class citing busy office schedules. She came in my dream asking me why I left the class. This didn't move me. So that was the end of what could have been a beginning in Carnatic music. This was 1999.
Later when I started singing on Youtube and in my Society Kojagiri program (2015 september). It took 16 years to get back to serious learning and practice. One of my co singers said that I sing well and I should learn music. I told him that I don't know of a good teacher. I wanted to learn Carnatic music but in Pune there were many Hindustani teachers. He suggested that I learn Hindustani music under Sri Ravindra Ghangurde Sir who is a legend and a disciple of Sri Vasant Rao Deshpande, Sri Deenaanaath Mangeshkar and Sri Kumar Gandharv. He introduced me and my Hindustani training started in November 2015. It keeps me engaged and by God's grace I would like to continue till my last breath. God is Great and He will oblige this request.
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