Born into an illustrious family as the son of Ghatam maestro, Padma Bhushan T.H. Vikku Vinayakram, Mahesh Vinayakaram’s initiation into Carnatic music started at the age of three. In rigorous discipline, structured and deeply immersive practice of music, Mahesh found his liberation. But it was at 21, watching his father, Ghatam legend, Vikku Vinayakaram perform at IIT Chennai grounds along with fellow iconic artistes, table maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and master violinist L Shankar, that Mahesh realised the significance of his legacy.“That was the first time I realised the magnificence of being a musician, an artiste. Music gave food for my soul, there was liberty I found in discipline – do chart my own path, to make my own music and define my path,” shared Mahesh. The reason he chose to the only vocalist in an illustrious family of Carnatic music precusssionists, all with Grammy awards t their name.“That was my grandfather’s wish, Thetakudi Harihara Sarma, the revered mridangam player and percussion guru. He always said that there was rhythm in the family but no melody. So, I was more swayed towards vocals,” said Mahesh.Performing in Amritsar, at the invitation of Phulkari-Women of Amritsar, a cultural and social organisation, Mahesh along with flute artist Sriram Sampath, mridangam artiste S. Hariharan, Sukhwinder Singh (on Sarangi) and Vikrant Kumar (on Tabla) created a confluence of Carnatic Music and Hindustani Classical music. The concert was a part of Mahesh’s Ragas to Meditation project where he explores musical space as an evolving landscape of time and lived experience. His minimalist, immersive vocalizations invite listeners into a shared state of inner reflection and outward quiet.From Waheguru Jaap to Om chanting and a spicy rhythm duel between mridamgam, table and konnoku, the concert was also a collaboration between the third-generation artiste and young generation of musicians.“Once you learn the grammar of music, it finds it audience. Once you merge the grammar of music the language finds its audience. Music for me is everything. It is self-love, self-realisation and through my project I am trying to practically implement the concept of immersive, meditative and healing effect of Ragas.”He has performed globally, collaborating with the late Ustad Zakir Hussain, A.R. Rahman and Nitin Sawhney — taking on word biggest stages and music festivals.The quest for doing things differently continues as Mahesh Vinayakram remains the first Indian male singer ever to perform at the world-famous Cirque du Soleil production, bringing Carnatic vocals into an international theatrical setting. With more concerts and collaborations. He has engaged thoughtfully with that inheritance rather than simply reproducing it. His global collaborations include range of Indian classical, jazz, world music, and contemporary artists like Steve Smith, James Asher, George Brookes, Kai Eckhardt and more.Mahesh likes being at the intersection of Carnatic music and global music. “Music to me is surrender- Sadhna. It is inclusive and has the power to transform chaos into cosmos,” he signs off with a promise of more.