A marriage of harmonies

Music is a spiritual experience, say L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti during a recent visit to Dubai

He is a living legend in classical Indian violin and has crossed cultural and musical boundaries to create true world music. She is one of India's most celebrated Hindi film singers who is now moving into fusion. Together, L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti symbolise the best in music – global and Indian; classical and contemporary; instrumental and vocal.

Married in November 1999, they also symbolise what is best in a relationship.

Kavita was in Dubai recently to perform at the Just Mohabbat concert. Subramaniam made time to travel with her, even if he doesn't listen much to Hindi film songs.

In an interview with Tabloid just an hour before their show, they spoke freely and easily on three main aspects of their relationship: Music, work and family. Remarkably humble and well-spoken, they showed how deeply they share a love of music, a respect for each other and a commitment as a family.

Excerpts:

Music

What L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti feel about music...

Musical influences:
L. Subramaniam – My father was my guide, mentor, guru. His dream was to make the violin a mainstream instrument, raising it from an accompanying instrument. We had an uphill task. We had to do something of our own yet that was more powerful than anybody else's music. We have fulfilled an unexpected dream. Even in a dream you expect something, here we expected nothing.

Kavita Krishnamurti – I grew up listening to Hindustani classical music as a child. My first teacher, Balram Puri, imbibed a deep love of music in my brother and myself. It was the golden era of Hindi film songs and I also listened to Lata Mangeshkar, Manna De, Hemant Kumar, Mukesh. I have been most deeply influenced by Lataji and Manna De.

Good music:
Subramaniam – Music that touches you emotionally. The spirituality in music is very, very special.

Kavita – There is music that peps you up and makes you dance, makes you physically very happy. I have always cared more for music that is tranquil. For me, music is not the source of being famous or earning money. It is a way I connect with God, with myself. I have my music with me all the time. It pulls me out of depression, I'm never lonely.

Each other's music:
Subramaniam on Kavita's music – She's one of those rare artistes who can sing a variety of songs with fluency, originality and an expression of her own. She sings beyond the notes; she gives life to the notes.

Kavita on Subramaniam's music – He is a brilliant musician. I'd put him on the top rung of classical music because of two reasons. One, he is a perfectionist. Two, listening to him is a spiritual experience. His notes are so pure, his expressions are so tranquil.

Work

What L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti feel about work...

The other's impact:
Subramaniam on Kavita's impact on his work – She has inspired me to compose for completely vocal albums. I have gone through quite a bad period over the years. My mother died, my father died, my first wife died. I had completely stopped playing. Then, I met many sages, started working with children, and finally met her. Meeting her opened up something inside me, opened a new door musically. As the relationship started evolving, my music came back.

Meeting her filled an empty portion in myself. We enjoy working together not just as artistes but emotionally and spiritually.

Kavita on Subramaniam's impact on her work – Meeting him has added an extra dimension to my music. All these years I have been steeped in film music, not had time for anything else. Now my eyes and ears have opened to fusion music. I've met so many famous musicians, attended so many concerts after meeting him.

I have just one regret – I wish I knew a little more about Western classical music.

He's very encouraging. Through him and through my children I'm trying to learn; listen with different ears and learn. The process of learning is very interesting.

Working together:
Subramaniam – We worked very intensely and both of us were very happy with the project. A singer like her should want to do something long-lasting. This was a milestone album. We got some fantastic music together.

Kavita – (We have achieved) quite a beautiful synthesis of violin and voice in the album where I worked with him. He's doing an album with me with Hindi lyrics, duets and solos. It will be a crossover album – just his expressions – with singers such as Pandit Jasraj, Sonu Nigam, Lucky Ali etc.

I never question his judgement. When I sing and he asks me to sing a line again, I can be 100 per cent sure that the pitch was not perfect. He has amazingly sharp ears. That is a gift from God, it can't be learnt. When he's playing he'll never slip up on a single note. When I work with him I'm always on my toes, there is never any complacency. In music, there should never be any complacency.

Family

What L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti feel about being a family...

Why they got married:
Subramaniam – I first fell in love with her voice. Very rarely do you find a singer who brings life to a note.

I wanted to hear different singers for my album and she was one of them. I selected her voice. I don't speak Hindi so don't watch Hindi films, but of course I knew she was a singer.

After meeting and working with her, I fell in love with her as a person. She's very simple, very humble, very down-to-earth.

The children – a daughter and two sons – were very happy to see her and looked forward to her visit. I never thought of getting married again. But my daughter (then 14) said, 'why don't you get married?'. I asked, 'to whom?'. 'To Kavita Auntie,' she said and ran away (laughs). She is very close to the children and they share a very strong relationship.

Kavita – I was a confirmed bachelor and had gone on record to say so. I didn't expect to fall in love at all. I came to his studio, sung for him. Was awed by his music. Worked together some more, met his children. I got vague feelings that I was fitting into the family. I saw how gentle he was, how polite. Saw the way he was with the children – mother and father and everything together.

It struck a cord in my heart. By the time he proposed to me I was absolutely sure of my feelings. Only I wasn't sure whether he would propose (laughs).

Priorities as a family:
Subramaniam – I will make sure I'm there when the children need me to make decisions. For the children, education is very important.

Kavita – Although we're travelling parents, we feel a deep responsibility for the children.
They are exceptionally bright and have total understanding of our profession. We will always fulfil our duties as parents.

Their future together:
Subramaniam – We have a