Veene Sheshanna Biography 
Veene Sheshanna was a famous musician and veena exponent from Mysore, Karnataka. He lived during the period, 1852-1926. He played the musical instrument in Carnatic style. He was a concert musician at the court of the princely state of Mysore, and had good knowledge of Hindustani music too. In those days when many Vainikas played Veene holding it vertically, Sheshanna played it holding it in the horizontal position. This holding style is still followed by musicians of today. Sheshanna composed 53 compositions, including Swarajatis, Padas, Javalis and many Tillanas. His Tillanas in the ragas Behag and Darbari Kannada are testimonies to his understanding of Hindustani music.
Veene Sheshanna was born in 1852 in Mysore with many centuries old tradition in music. Sheshanna was the descendant of Pachchimeeriyam Aadi Appayya, a noted composer of Carnatic music. A court musician in the late 19th century and early 20th century, Veene Sheshanna has composed many tunes in the musical instrument, Veena. His father, Chikkaramappa was a court musician of Mysore, who played Veena, and he passed over his talents to his son. But he died soon after the marriage of Sheshanna, when Sheshanna was only 12 years old. Mysore Sadashiva Rao and Veene Venkatasubbayya were the gurus of Sheshanna.
A child prodigy, he displayed unique talents in music since the age of 5. He even received many precious gifts from Maharaja of Mysore, for his talents. He initially learnt vocal music but then switched to playing the saraswati veena. Sheshanna used to give public music concerts during the annual Ramanavami and Krishnashthami festivals, and also toured across south India. Apart from veena, he also mastered violin, piano and swarabat.
Published: October 06, 2018
Updated: October 06, 2018
