I was recently exploring Kannada authors who I haven't read before, and I came across Ta.Ra.Su. I had heard of his writings but never read any yet. So, I looked up his books and finally found a book that was highly recommended by many users and had a musical theme which attracted me towards it. Hamsa geethe is a 200-page novel about the life of a great musician Venkata Subbayya. This fictional memoir explores the conflict between true devotion to music and the pressures of performing for fame or royal command. I liked the beautiful descriptions of classical music and devotion. This book was not only a piece of beautiful literature but also a great work of philosophy. Following the musician's life, this book also gives great insights on the connection between music and spirituality. I did feel that the book was slow paced and it does take a lot of patience to relish every moment in this book. As a musician and flautist myself, I truly connected with the depth that Ta.Ra.Su has gone to in terms of music, its grandeur and how it has been described in this book. This line truly shows the level of research Ta.Ra.Su had done to write this book and his understanding of music:"Sangeetha devara daana. Adannu bega kodabeku antha yaaru heluttare?"
("Music is a gift from God. Who dares command its timing?")
I would surely recommend it to lovers of classical music, history, and Kannada literature. Even readers new to this genre will appreciate the emotion and intensity of Venkanna’s story.
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