Dedicated Towards Preserving the “Gayaki” Style Of Playing

 T Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan (popularly known as Jeyaraaj and Jaysri) belong to the unbroken lineage of the direct Shishya Parampara of Nadajyoti Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar - who is one among the famous Trinity of Carnatic Music.Jeyaraaj and Jaysri started learning Music at a very young age and have undergone intensive training under Sri Anantharama Iyer and Smt Champakavalli, The latter were initiated into music by their father Brahmashri Sri. Ananthakrishna Iyer, a direct disciple of Ambi Dikshitar, the great grand nephew of Nadajyothi Muthuswami Dikshitar. 

Brahmashri Ananthakrishna Iyer was the founder of Sri Guru Guha Gana Vidyalaya at Kolkata, which specializes in the "Gaayaki" style of playing Veena. At present they are also under the tutelage of Sangeeta Acharya Shri Chingleput Ranganathan in Chennai. Veena holds a revered place in Carnatic Music.

 
Jeyaraaj and Jaysri have decided to dedicate themselves to preserve the "Gayaki" style of playing the Veena by imbibing the traditional "Tanjavur Baani”, a hallmark of their school.  Veena, being the   preferred   instrument   of Muthuswamy Dikshitar, has a special status in the school to which the artists belong.  One of the most authentic styles of playing this difficult instrument stems from their Vidyalaya. The artists in their own humble way, have taken it up as their mission to uphold the rich legacy inherited from their Gurus. They have received the “Best Veena Players” award from The Indian Fine Arts Society at their annual festival.They have had the privilege of performing at the National Programme of Music before an invited audience in the studios of Chennai AIR.. Jeyaraaj and Jaysri have also used the platform of Lecture Demonstrations to popularise and highlight the attributes of the Veena. 

The Indian Fine Arts Society featured Jeyaraaj and Jaysri in a special programme during their prestigious annual festival, where, a rare insight was provided into the evolution of the instrument, tracing its history from the Vedic Ages to its contemporary pride of place in the world of Carnatic Music. Jeyaraaj and Jaysri have been regularly called upon to participate in concerts organized by “The Veena Foundation”, New Delhi in various parts of the country. 

Apart from the famed December Music Season in Chennai, the artists have been featured in prestigious festivals around the country. They are dedicated towards preserving and propagating the “Gayaki” style of playing the Veena. 

Their latest audio album is a unique offering called Anandam Anantam” featuring tanams in 18 rare Carnatic ragas like Balahamsa, Navroj, Nadanamakriya, Vegavahini, etc, and has received very favourable response from the critic and rasika community alike. Among other albums, they have also released a CD titled “Subramanya”, in which they have rendered Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s Krithis on Lord Karthikeya.