Madurai Messenger Cover Story August 2012
Woman of the Water Waves Legendary Carnatic musician Seetha Doraiswamy is most famous for playing the jalatharangam, a traditional Indian percussion instrument. Our Sub Editor, Ingelise Jones, spends an afternoon with this remarkable musician and is captivated by a matriarch who radiates love for both music and her family. As every family member’s muse, Ingelise also finds herself inspired by this phenomenal woman By Ingelise Jones Sub Editor & Journalism Manager
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er reputation precedes her. Drop her name to any lover of Carnatic music, and they’ll know precisely whom you are talking about. For the uninitiated, it doesn’t take long to learn about Smt.Seetha Doraiswamy’s extraordinary talent. Not only has she received critical acclaim for playing the jalatharangam, and for her contribution to the entire movement of Carnatic music, she is an inspiring example of how one can achieve greatness and success at any age. In the conservative and traditional Indian culture of the 1960s, Smt.Seetha Doraiswamy defied many societal norms. As a 40 year-old woman, she burst onto the music scene, quickly bewitching audiences and critics with the sonic sound waves of water created by the jalatharangam (which literally translates to ‘waves in water’). What’s even more interesting, is that she doesn’t see these factors as being anything remarkable or out of the ordinary. She’s just doing what she loves and living life to the fullest. In demand for all sorts of occasions and concerts in Tamil Nadu, across the country and overseas, her fame is something of a phenomenon, but as I soon learn, something she shies away from. Smt.Seetha Doraiswamy - The talented musician is still full of energy at the age of 86
Jalatharanga Sri Smt. Seetha Doraiswamy performs with her grandson Abishek Raja (21)
An afternoon with Smt. Seetha We meet at the house of her eldest daughter, Smt.N.Visalakshi who I come to know as Perima. I’ve seen multiple photos of Smt.Seetha Doraiswamy, and I’ve even watched videos of her performances on YouTube. So, when Perima answers the door, I hesitate for a moment, wondering whether this could be her. Logic tells me it’s impossible, but the resemblance between mother and daughter is remarkable. I am shown into a bedroom, where the lady of the hour, or Paatti (Tamil for Grandmother), is waiting for me. Like a little bundle of bright beautiful energy, she sits cross-legged on the wooden floor. My afternoon with Smt. Seetha begins. She may be small in stature, but her presence is anything but. At first, she is quiet, radiating a big smile that feels part wise and all-knowing, and part playful. She fills the room with her sprightly energy. As we begin to speak through our translator, her granddaughter, Archana Sundararajan,
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Matriarch of music As I feel the energy and love radiating from this unassuming woman, before we even get to talk about her extraordinary musical talents, I hear about her family. She can tell you about each of them, and their musical and artistic talents. Genetics must surely play an important role in this talented ensemble of a family. Like a beautiful composition, music plays in every generation, flowing through each of her children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren. This matriarch has a large close family. She gave birth to ten children, of which eight are still with us. One passed away at age 13 of a heart condition, and another at age 55 to a heart attack. Outliving a child is difficult for any mother, but just as I can see the sadness in her eyes, I also see the absolute joy she feels towards all of her children. She also has 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and is very much the centre of each of their lives. Her eldest daughter, Perima, is in fact just 16 years younger than her, whereas the difference between Perima and the youngest siblings, twin daughters Mala and Kala, is 19 years. Delving into Paatti’s memory of the early years, she doesn’t question how her life has played out. While her reflections are fascinating, she doesn’t see herself as lucky, nor does she see herself as having any extraordinary talent. She’s just Paatti: mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
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