Poly Varghese

Personal life

Poly Varghese lives in Chennai, Born in Kerala, besides his mother tongue Malayalam, Poly has a sufficiently good working knowledge of not only English, Tamil, Hindi and Bengali but Oriya as well.

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.

Awards

concerts

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

vilionist, 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 Honk Kong

Concert at Indian Assossitaion 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