In Her Natural Element

In conversation with Dr. Jayanti Kumaresh, the modern face of the Saraswati Veena.

- Sriram Ravishankar

Regarded as one of India’s most popular classical musicians, undoubtedly Dr. Jayanti Kumaresh is the very embodiment and incarnation of Goddess Saraswati in today’s modern times. She comes from a lineage of musicians who were disciples of Saint Thyagaraj himself and have been practicing Carnatic music for six generations.

Jayanti’s journey with the Veena started at the age of 3 under her mother Lalgudi Rajalakshmi and later moved to her aunt Veena exponent Padmavathy Ananthagopalan under the Gurukulam system for over 22 years until she was deemed to be ready for stage. Her trajectory since then is a true testament of her exemplary discipline, perseverance, and undivided passion towards her instrument. For over three decades now, Jayanti has constantly pushed the creative limits not only for herself but also her collaborating artists.

Over the years, she has collaborated with most classical artists from across the country who are just as synonymous with their instruments as Jayanti is. She holds a doctorate in “Styles and Playing Techniques of the Saraswati Veena” and conducts various workshops and lecture demonstrations across the world. Jayanti is the modern face of the Saraswati Veena, India’s national instrument amongst the very few other contemporary artists who still pursue the instrument with the same passion and rigor.

The immersive musical experience she creates every time she dissolves into her instrument as she braces the stage, the wealth of experiences she carries from her learning years, clarity of thought, excellent presentation skills, her envious sarees, her charming smile, and an infectious passion for Carnatic music is what makes Jayanti who she is.