KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini, popularly known as the Violin Duo from the south Indian state of Karnataka, enthralled the audience by their performance at the Royal Nepal Academy Hall today.

Inside the hall, everything sat quiet listening to the melody emanating from the strings, and the pauses and long pauses were welcomed by thunderous applause. Sur Sangam, as the musical evening was called, started with Sukarma, a Nepali group, playing the yaman and pillu ragas, classical music fused with Nepali folk tunes. Sukarma has already performed in Japan, Kazakhstan, Italy, France and several other countries. It also plays classical Nepali music regularly on Radio Nepal.

The two Indian sisters are widely acclaimed as outstanding South Indian Classical Carnatic violinists. They have already performed in the USA, Singapore, Norway, Australia and Malaysia. It’s their maiden performance in Nepal.

At a press meet on Tuesday, the sisters said Nepali folk music had close relations with Indian classical music. To hammer their point home, they cited Resham Firiri, a Nepali folk song which hangs to many tongues, as an example of classical music fused with folk tune. The sisters come from a family where violin-playing has been a tradition for generations. In other words, they come from a Sishya parampara direct lineage. Beginning with their grandfather, their mother and uncles were also famous violinists.

The innovative music in which the sisters have excelled is deeply rooted in the traditions of Carnatic and is layered with a touch of fusion from different kinds of international classical music and jazz. 
The fine tune of the Muthuswamy sisters attempts at preserving eastern classical music despite the hard blow from western influences. The music also combines the originality and uniqueness of South and North Indian classical rhythms.

The sisters compose and teach music besides performing on stage. The Mohanam, The Swaram, The Drupad Aalap, Kriti are some of the popular ragas they play. The sisters learnt western classical violin playing and passed the final (8th grade) examination from Trinity College of Music, London. Lalitha holds a Doctorate in Indian Music from University of Madras.

The sisters have been honoured with nine awards and honours including “Kalaimamani”, the highest honour given by the state government of Tamil Nadu, for their achievement in music. His Holiness Shri Shankaracharya Swami of Kanchkamakoti Peetam had also honoured them for securing first place in the State violin competition.

Before the musical evening started, Indian envoy to Nepal Shyam Sharan stressed on cultural exchanges between the two countries through musical troupes. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Sharma said that the government has been working to depute a cultural lobby group to India for cultural exchange and attracting cultural tourists to Nepal.