Imagine completing 100 stage performances before the age of 10. Sounds astounding, but child prodigies Vidwan Ganesh and Vidwan Kumaresh did not have the childhood we know. The Carnatic duo began their musical training at home at the age of three and two years respectively, under the guidance of their father TS Rajagopalan who taught music to children in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. “There have been so many concerts we can’t remember, and gave up counting after 15 or 20 years [in the industry],” says Kumaresh, the younger of the two. 

Earlier this month, Ganesh, 57, and Kumaresh, 55, performed at the Mumbai Margazhi Mahotsavam to celebrate 50 years of playing together. Last fortnight, this writer saw Ganesh, play live at the 50th anniversary of Shakti, the legendary Indo-jazz fusion band during their Mumbai-leg of the tour. Seeing him on stage, one could say that he was indeed a violin maestro with the way he captivated the crowd during his solo. Over almost half a century of performing, the duo has won many accolades such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2018–the highest national recognition for performance artistes, among many more.