From falling asleep on her mother’s lap while she taught music to touring the villages of Karnataka and cities of South America and Africa, Carnatic singer Manasi Prasad has come a long way.
The 35-year-old now has a new role to nurture – as the project director at Centre for Indian Music Experience. At the helm of this unique museum in Bengaluru that intends to encourage a rediscovery of various genres of Indian music, she talks to us about her musical journey and why she believes that this was important for the cultural vein of the city.
“Since we are bombarded with film music most of the time, I felt there was a need for a space where people could experience the sheer diversity of music in India – from the traditional to the contemporary in an exciting and engaging manner,” says Manasi.
The IIM Bangalore alumnus worked as a corporate and investment banker, changing from trousers to sarees in restrooms for her concerts before she quit and took to music full time.
“I’d always nurtured a passion to set up a world-class music institution and this combined my love for music with my background in management, so I jumped at the offer,” she says of the initiative supported by the Brigade Group.
A mother of two toddlers, Manasi now has her hands full with yet another baby – the museum. “This is a touch-and-feel museum as opposed to other ‘don’t touch’ museums,” says a thrilled Manasi.
“Some of my favourite parts are the recording studio, where anyone can record themselves singing, a photo wall where you can pose as part of a baraat band, and the large xylophone installation in the Sound Garden, a space features musical sculptures like gongs, bells and reeds for visitors to play,” she says, giving us a glimpse into it. They are also gathering memorabilia from the five music recipients of the Bharat Ratna award – they have already got a shehnai from Ustad Bismillah Khan’s family and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s shawl and paan box. According to reports, they also hope to obtain an award from Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Ravi Shankar’s sitar and one of MS Subbulakshmi’s trademark blue Kanjeevaram sarees, for instance.
While funds have always been difficult, Manasi and her team hope to turn it into the cultural hub of Bengaluru, and perhaps of India too. “We want to create a generation of people who care about music deeply and who can appreciate different genres, even if they have a favourite,” adds Manasi, believing that young minds could benefit from this. Apart from continuing to grow with the museum, she hopes to pursue her performing career aggressively
