Mohan Veena – India’s gift to fusion music

Few musical instruments have been created from others. The concept of a Spanish guitar, which is a Western instrument, being designed to suit the needs of Indian classical music was a revolutionary step in the field of music.

Mohan Veena, which is an archtop guitar made out of the Spanish guitar was invented by the Indian classical musician, Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt. Bhatt created the instrument by chance at a friend’s house. The result was an Indian version of the Hawaiian guitar which produces a distinct sound, best suited for fusion, classical and even Western music.  

The instrument, unlike the guitar, consists of 20 strings, three melody strings and five drone strings along with 12 sympathetic strings. It is played like a Hawaiian guitar and when played is under tremendous tension, sometimes exceeding 500 pounds.

Bhatt was initially criticised as it was felt that the purity of music was compromised by such an instrument. However, he silenced his critics by winning a Grammy award in 1994 (for the album ‘A Meeting by the River’). He has also played for A.R.Rahman’s much-acclaimed movie ‘Iruvar’. 

The distinct sound of the Mohan-Veena can be heard in the song ‘Narumugaiye’. Rahman used the instrument in the song ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in the album of the same name. It has also been played in Raag Bhairavi, Raag Durbari and others by the inventor. Bhatt played the instrument for ‘Colonial Cousins’, a fusion band formed by singer Hariharan and musician Leslie Lewis for the album of the same name.  

Some others who have used the instrument are the fusion musicians Harry Manx and Matt Malley, founder and bass guitarist of the rock band ‘Counting Crows’.

Pt. Bhatt’s son, Salil Bhatt, has created a musical instrument called ‘Satvik Veena’. It has 19 strings and has a distinct sound. Pt. Bhatt’s invention of around 41 years was a musical revolution. His son has proved the saying “It runs in the family”.