Poly Varghese
Poly Varghese (born 20 November 1970) is a Hindustani musician and Mohan veena player, a disciple of musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. He is also an actor, poet and an activist. Personal life. Poly Varghese lives in Chennai, Born in Kerala, beside his mother tongue Malayalam, Poly has a sufficiently good working knowledge of not only English, Tamil, Hindi and Bengali. Career. Poly Varghese was initially trained at Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala’s paramount center for training in classical arts. He specialized in Mridangam, the main component of percussion in southern classical music. He pursued his quest for music at  Viswa Bharati University, Santiniketan, in the north eastern state of India, West Bengal, where he took full advantage of a unique opportunity to learn stringed and percussion instruments. His growing interest in Rabindra Sangeet and love for Hindustani classical music prompted him to specialize in Hindustani music on electric guitar. A chance meeting with guitar maestro Viswa Mohan Bhatt saw Poly’s introduction to the Mohan Veena. From that moment onwards Poly dedicated all his energy and resources towards learning and practicing the Mohan Veena under the guidance of his new and highly revered teacher. The guidance and tutelage of  Pandit Bhatt provided Poly with clarity in perspective and practice, to the point where he is now emerging as a master of the Mohan Veena with his own inimitable style of improvisation. While perfecting and pursuing the depths of music, Poly is now composing and performing his own creations. Poly Varghese now has many concerts to his credit both in India and abroad, including Arab states of the Persian Gulf and Europe. Poly’s unique experience and experiments in creating music have also propelled him to develop the 40-stringed, three-neck guitar which he named the Poly String Guitar  (Bahu Thantri Veena) His long term interest in traditions and disciplines of music and theatre finds expression in various forms. Having travelled with Baul singers of West Bengal, he is familiar with their music and loves to render high-pitched Baul songs. He is also trained in Rabindra Sangeet, and has trained in Kabeer songs under the guidance of Pt Hirasingh Borliya of Ujjain. With acclaimed talent in acting Poly Varghese has been involved in experimental theatre for several years. He has worked with famed Indian theater exponents Krishnamurthy, Badal Sircar and Nasser. He has acted in plays of different  languages and has played several noteworthy roles in Tamil films. Poly has also composed music for films and theatre alike. concerts. from 2016: Concert at Cardiological Society of India 68th annual conference at hotel Le Meridian, Kochi Concert at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia with Australian musician Dr Peter Huff, on behalf of releasing album Cohering Opus Concert at Aayina music program, Victoria Concert at Crystal Suites Wadi Kabir, Sultanate of Oman, invited by Indian Embassy of Oman Concert at IBRI Indian association, Sultanate of Oman Concert at Indian Association Malayalam wing Concerts at TDM hall invited by Bank Employees Arts  Movement Ernakulum (BEAME) Concert at Trissur Kerala on Chethana Music festival Concert by Association of Chartered Accountants Melbourne Australia Concerts at Peter Huff Music College Back to Rock Concerts at Northern Region India Seniors association Melbourne Australia Concert jugaabandi with eminent Carnatic vocalist Shoba Sekhar at Glenwaverly Melbourne Australia Concert at Nagpur Shishak cultural hall Maharashtra, invited by Bharat Sanskruthi Yatra Concerts at Bangkok University Thailand on behalf of hr. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhoran and honored with the title Sangeeth Bhushan on behalf of Hindustani art and music society 2015 Concerts at Bahrain Indian Club organised by the Indian Embassy , Bahrain Concert at Infinite at Santa Clara, CA, United States Concerts at Austin Tribe USA, Sangeet Millennium Ensemble with Amie Maciszewski , Sarah Jane Hargis and Paul Klemperer) Concert at University of Texas with Iranian musicians Ehsan Matoori and Ehsan Shafiee in support of children of Nepal, Dallas USA Concert at Yoga in Motion at San Antonio USA, mohan veena and violin, jugalbandhi with karnatic violinist, Swami Anandanada Yogi Concert at Prakuthi at Wayanad, Kerala Concert at Mohan Sangeeth Rath Concert at Delhi Epic Center organized by India World Cultural Foundation Concerts at Chennai with Tavil maestro Valayapetti in Chennayil Thiruvayyar  Festival Concert at India International Guitar Festival Kolkata with Jeff Peterson & Debashish Bhattacharya 2014: Concerts at Sultan Bin Ali Oasis Cultural Foundation auditorium, Dubai UAE Concert at Chembai Memorial Music Academy in Palakad, Kerala, India Concert at Chirag Cultural Center in Kerala, India Concert at Guan Spiritual Center in Hong Kong with Chinese flute player Tam Po Shek Concerts at Honkkong Cultural Center at Hong Kong Concert at Indian Association Auditorium Emirates of Sharjah UAE Concert at Hala Hotel Emirates of Ajman UAE Concert of scholars India at RasalKhaima UAE 2013: Concert in Indian Embassy of Qatar, Doha Concert at  Hamsadwani Music Festival, Chennai 2012: Jugal bandhi’ with Mandolin Aravind Bhargav at Margazhi fest , Chennai Solo at ‘Spaces’ performance Center, Chennai Concert at Dubai Museum (Invitation from prestigious painter Mrs. Fathima Lootha), Dubai Concert on National day celebration at one world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa (First performance of an Indian musician), UAE Concert at India Festival by Government of India, Abu Dhabi 2011: Concert at Mozart Music Fest at Vienna Fusion music with popular gypsy musicians and guitarist Andreas Glasner, Austria Concert at Monsoon Music festival organized by Govt. of India, New Delhi Mehfil with Drupad musician Subendhu  Gosh, Delhi 2010: Concert at Arab Cultural Centre for Arab India Cultural Exchange by Govt. of Sharjah, Sharjah Concert at India Social Centre, Abudabi Concert at Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction, Madurai, 2009 Mehfil - organized by renowned south Indian actor Nasar, Chennai, 2008 Concert at Adhi Shakti Ashram, Pondicherry 2008-9 Concert at Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction in Madurai, India – 2009 Mehfil - organized by renowned South Indian actor Nasar, Chennai, India - 2008 Concert at Adhi Shakthi Ashram in Pondichery, India Others Chennai Doordarshan in 2007: Played 30 ragas in 30-day telecast during Sugamana Ragangal Performed meditative  music as stress therapy for various organisations and companies