The News Minute| September 19, 2014| 2.00 pm IST
Tributes and condolences are pouring in for Mandolin maestro U Shrinivas who passed away on Friday morning at a hospital in Chennai.
Mujhe abhi maalum hua ki bohot acche mandolin player U. Srinivas ji jinhe log mandolin Srinivas bhi kehete (cont) http://t.co/dXfOXrW5Ag
— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) September 19, 2014
We've lost a wonderful human being and a legend 'mandolin srinivas'. Pt. U.srinivas RIP. Prayers ..
— salim merchant (@salim_merchant) September 19, 2014We lost Mandolin Maestro Shri U. Srinivas this morning. One of the greatest musicians of this world. And too young to go away. R.I.P.
— Shreya Ghoshal (@shreyaghoshal) September 19, 2014
Emotionally shaken to hear of Carnatic shining star Mandolin Shrinivasji's demise... May God bless him with happiness in the next world...
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) September 19, 2014S. P. Balasubrahmanyam on Facebook
I am in Hyderabad. Heard the shocking news about Mandolin Srinivas's demise.
How sad! Mr. Vasu Rao, Music Director, then Bass Guitar player brought a 11 year old boy from Andhra Pradesh to Gemini studios in 1980, where I was doing the back ground score for HAM PAANCH, the hindi film, produced by Boney Kapoor and directed by Late Bapu. Introduced him as Srinivas, who played cinema songs on Mandolin. On my request the boy played a song from SANKARAABHARANAM.I was amazed at the perfection with which he played all the gamakas on the tiny instrument. I asked him about his Music Guru. He said that he never learnt music theoretically and could not read and write notation and the purpose of coming to Chennai was to learn classical music. I sang the theme music of HAM PANCH couple of times, he heard and played it perfectly. We recorded that piece and used in the film. 75 rupees was the remuneration for a Mandolin player at that time. Boney paid him 175 rupees.
He came with his musicians and did a concert for my cousin sister's wedding, just taking only the incidental expenses.
Very nice person. Even, when he saw me in Airport, Railway station or even a restaurant, he used to prostate before me with out any inhibition. Great soul.
He elevated Indian Classical music to universal level.
May the great soul rest in peace.