Anyone familiar with Chennai will recognise Nehru News Mart as a landmark on Luz Corner at Mylapore, but few may consider a room above it at Sai Lodge as an equally famous one. But it was in the 1960s.
The news mart, filled with magazines and dailies, is still there. But not the bachelor who stayed there: Dhanraj Master, as he was known to the music world, who lives only in the music that fills every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu.
Dhanraj was one of the trios who laid the foundation for Chennai becoming a hub of Western classical music then. They nurtured generations of string instrumentalists, many of whom now dominate the film world.
Wilfred Forbes, who eventually settled in Australia and Johnny Taylor, who lived near Power House in Vadapalani, were the other two great masters.
“Dhanraj Master had a golden touch. His students bear testimony to his ability as a teacher. Ilayaraja, A.R. Rahman, Kalyan, the leading violinist of A.R. Rahman, and Joseph, who played for K.V. Mahadevan… the list is endless,” said cellist V.R. Sekar, who also learnt the violin from Dhanraj master.
Mr. Sekar, son of late violinist Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, said Dhanraj was also well-versed in the theory of music and could play the violin, guitar and piano. “His training helped me easily handle the cello,” said Mr. Sekar, who has been playing for Ilayaraja for over two decades.
“He was so popular that most of the senior musicians in the film world would have spent at least one week with Dhanraj Master,” said another violinist Sheik Imam Sahib, a student of Taylor.
Jeronhe Fernandes, one of the leading violinists in the city, said all the three masters were trained by the British musicians.
A student of Wilfred Forbes, Mr. Fernandes said his teacher led the Governor’s band for 10 years. Forbes lived in a house opposite the Government Royapettah Hospital and was an outstanding violinist, accomplished pianist, and played the musical saw, a rare instrument, besides the xylophone.
“After listening to me play the violin, he agreed to teach me without expecting anything in return. I learnt from him for 10 years; the internationally renowned L. Sankar and L. Subramaniam are also his students.
V.S. Narasimhan and Ramasubbu also learnt from him for a brief period,” said Mr. Fernandes, who finished his LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College, London) with honours.
While Dhanraj was involved in the film world for a brief period, both Taylor and Forbes played for music directors including M.S. Viswanathan. All the three were accomplished in playing more than one instrument.
Mr. Imam said Taylor, who could play the violin, trumpet and double-bass, always taught one student at a time.
Ilayaraja, A.R. Rahman and leading violinist Kalyan were among his students
