Q & A

Q: How did your musical journey begin?

Tejashree Amonkar:
Music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. There wasn't a specific starting point — I was born into it. It was my way of life, not just an art form I decided to pursue. Growing up in a home where my grandmother, Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar, lived and breathed music, I simply absorbed it.

​

​

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a musician?

Tejashree Amonkar:
Not really. Initially, it was just something around me. There was no pressure, no announcement of "You must learn." But slowly, I started realizing that it’s where I feel most like myself. It became my way of understanding the world.

​

​

Q: What was it like being trained by your grandmother, Kishori Amonkar?

Tejashree Amonkar:
It was intense and deeply personal. She never sat down like a ‘teacher’ — everything was oral, and you had to pay attention all the time. She would sing a phrase once, and expect you to absorb it. If you missed it, it was gone. There was no repetition. It wasn’t about spoon-feeding — it was about tuning your ears, your intuition, and your sensitivity.

​

​

Q: Can you give an example of how Kishori Tai taught you without explicitly teaching?

Tejashree Amonkar:
I once tried to sing a taan in front of her — something quick and complex. Technically it was fine. She simply said, “Where are you in it?” That one question made me reflect deeply. It wasn’t about speed or correctness. It was about presence. Was I really in the phrase? That was a turning point in how I approached music.

​

​

Q: Were there set rules in the learning process?

Tejashree Amonkar:
Yes, absolutely. There were unspoken rules — you had to listen with full attention, stay quiet, and not ask too many questions. Memorization was key. Everything was oral and had to be internalized. Writing things down was discouraged. She believed music should come from within, not from paper.

​

​

Q: Did you ever challenge her methods?

Tejashree Amonkar:
Never openly — but yes, there were moments of frustration. I didn’t always understand the ‘why’. But over time, I realized that her methods created a sense of responsibility and ownership. You had to dig deep. And only when you truly understood would she say, “Now you’re ready.”

​

​

Q: Do you follow the same philosophy in your own practice today?

Tejashree Amonkar:
Yes. I still follow those methods — not out of tradition, but because they work. I sing a phrase again and again until I feel it in my bones. I don't believe in rushing. Even when I teach, I focus on presence and depth, not quantity.

​

​

Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about Hindustani classical music today?

Tejashree Amonkar:
That it’s rigid or boring. In fact, it is the most liberating form — but only if you understand its depth. The structure isn’t a limitation; it’s a framework that allows you to explore infinity. Real creativity comes from knowing the rules so deeply that they become second nature — and then you can transcend them.

​

​

Q: How do you see your role in carrying forward your grandmother's legacy?

Tejashree Amonkar:
I don’t want to become a replica of her. That would be disrespectful. I want to carry forward her spirit — her honesty, her emotional depth, her discipline. Through the Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar Foundation, I’m working to preserve her philosophy, her recordings, and her presence in Indian classical music.

​

​

Q: What is your riyaz (practice) like today?

Tejashree Amonkar:
It’s consistent but also fluid. I don’t fix hours. Some days it's hours of slow alap; other days, it’s just sitting quietly with the tanpura and reflecting on a single note. It’s not about quantity — it’s about depth. Even silence is part of my riyaz.

​

​

Q: Is there a moment in your musical life you hold especially close?

Tejashree Amonkar:
There are many. But one stands out — when Ajji once looked at me after I sang and simply smiled. She didn’t say a word. That smile meant everything. It was her way of saying, “You’ve begun to understand.” That stays with me.

​

​

Q: What message would you give to young students of classical music?

Tejashree Amonkar:
Don’t look for shortcuts. There’s no app for musicality. Listen deeply. Reflect. Be honest. And most importantly, fall in love with the sound — not the stage.