I also attended this veena concert.
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... inbam.html
Somehow, whenever I watch a veteran (like Vidushi Kalpakam Swaminathan) play the veena, especially when it's a slow song, it's mesmerising to just watch the moves they make on it.
I get the feeling that a Carnatic musician should have some exposure to this ancient musical instrument, the tradition of playing which has been evolving for almost as long as Carnatic music itself. Every single thing has a certain nEmam (a method) in such veterans' veena playing, and some exposure to such technique should be greatly beneficial, even essential for a good Carnatic musician.