Playback Singer Vijay Prakash Launches VP Culture Club In Bengaluru To Nurture Young Musical Talent

Renowned playback singer Vijay Prakash has launched a music club in Bengaluru's Banashankari. Named VP Culture Club, this centre aims to nurture young talent by hosting workshops. The first event focused on 'Devaranamas’, compositions from the Haridasa tradition, and was met with an "overwhelming" response, according to Prakash.

"Everything I have today is because of music and art. I felt it was time to give back to the community. That's when my wife Mahathi (also a singer) and I decided to start a community for youngsters who are enthusiastic about learning and teaching the art," Prakash says.

Music Workshops for Young Enthusiasts

The club plans to conduct music workshops across various genres for groups of 15 to 20 participants. Enrolment is primarily on a first-come-first-serve basis, though sometimes applicants may be chosen based on submitted audio samples. "We want to keep the number of participants minimal so we can give them one-on-one attention," he says.

Prakash envisions expanding the club's offerings beyond music. Future plans include classes in dance and other art forms, with experts invited to lead these sessions. Additionally, he hopes to bring these workshops to smaller towns across Karnataka.

Reaching Out Beyond Bengaluru

"While judging 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa', I realised there is immense talent across Karnataka. But many don't have access to music schools or online facilities to learn. That's why I plan to hold workshops to share my experiences and what I have learned from my seniors," he explains.

In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, Prakash emphasises the importance of human connections in art. Through his club, he seeks to foster personal interactions where people can share their thoughts on music and art.

"Technology is important, but art is more beautiful when shared in person," he says.