Sometimes real life appears to be more fictitious than a reel life plot. The profile of renowned Carnatic musician Dr S. Hariharan Nair has sufficient ‘dramatic’ element in it. It’s truly an inspiring story of determination. Despite losing his two hands in a freak mishap, destiny couldn’t snuff out his fighting spirit. Music was the elixir that helped him resuscitate. Hariharan Nair, of Kadungalloor, Aluva was a connoisseur of music since his childhood. After learning harmonium and tabla, he started learning music under Koonammavu Lonappa Bhagavathar. He began his musical journey by performing concerts at temples. In 1971, he joined Premier Tyres, Kalamassery as casual labourer. After three months, an accident in the company made him a disabled man. When he regained consciousness after a few days, he was shattered. Recalling those painful days, Hariharan Nair says, “I was heartbroken to realize it. I made attempts to commit suicide thrice as I was unable to cope with the reality.”

Turning point

After three months, Hariharan Nair was taken to Pune Military Hospital. “There I saw people without limbs and other defects. The scenes of suffering people changed my attitude. I made up my mind to fight and never give up,” he says. With artificial hands he joined again for the job at Premier Tyres. But he continued learning Carnatic music under gurus like Cherthala Govindankutty Bhagavathar, Palluruthy Natesan Bhagavathar, Mavelikkara Prabha Varma and Nedunkunnam Vasudevan. He retired from the company at the age of 45. And he did not get any compensation from the firm. Along with pursuing music, he mastered Sanskrit and Telugu. “I got married after the accident. The girl, Nirmala, was ready to marry me knowing all about me. She had attended my concerts before our marriage,” reminisces Dr S. Hariharan Nair. An ardent devotee of Mookambika, Hariharan Nair believes that it was his belief that has stood him in good stead through thick and thin.

Music is my soul…

• According to Dr Hariharan Nair, music gives positive energy to our cells. “Music is my soul. Without music I would have died after the accident,” says this 65-year-old musician who is also a practitioner of music therapy, Vedic therapy, yoga and Reiki. He got doctorate in Music Therapy from Calcutta University in 2003.

• Established in 1984, Sariga Sangeetha Academy has 150-odd music students, including 5-year-old children and 60–year-old people. Dr Hariharan Nair set up a music hall adjacent to his house with the money raised through a concert by Dr K.J. Yesudas who performed it at the academy without accepting remuneration.

• The academy conducts BA music course recognized by Gandharva University, Mumbai. Musicians Dr M. Balamuralikrishna, K.J. Yesudas, Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan, Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, K.S. Gopalakrishnan, Sarath among others have performed concerts at the academy.

Why Dr S. Hariharan Nair is different?

• Lack of authentic books on music made him an author. “Sangeetha Sagaram”, a book which provides meticulous information on music from the Vedic period to the present era, is his gift to the world of music. He used his plastic hands to write the book.  He has composed as many as 250 kritis too.

• Writing with his artificial arms, he passed the music diploma course examination conducted by the Madras University.