Tabla maestro BICKRAM GHOSH talks to DIVYANI RAGHAV about the other side of experimenting with classical traditions
His classical lineage and the kind of predilection he had as a child made it quite apparent that the teenaged Bickram Ghosh would grow up to become a well-known classical tabla player. He said, “The journey was not so easy because my father had already set high standards and made it a bit tough to prove myself. I took a while but by mid-90s when I started playing with Pandit Ravi Shankar, people noticed me. The decade-long stint as his accompanist boosted my career and I straight away got catapulted into the classical league.” What followed were collaborations with musicians across the globe even as Ghosh became a name to reckon with in world music.
He shared, “Eventually I went into fusion music and was one of the few people who indulged in it at that time. Considering most people were unaware of this genre, I was lucky enough to be accepted by the few who understood.” Fusion, as they say, is not an easy deal, unless you understand and master the classical genres and their grammar in the first place.
Which is why Saregama Classical Studio is putting together a unique video series putting forth India’s cultural strength on a global stage through a classical mobile application. It will showcase maestros like Pt Jasraj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ajay Prasanna, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Bickram Ghosh and others performing against mesmerising locations across India such as Humayun’s Tomb, Purana Qila, Mehrangarh Fort, Hawa Mahal and Panch Rathas. An effort of more than a year and meticulous research to select the most amazing historical places has gone in to reflect the vivid personalities of the artistes performing there.
“I think every generation is at the crossroads when it comes to making their ideas work, be it classical music or modern. I clearly remember when I was 18, people thought the obsession with ghazals would wipe out the audience for classical music. That did not happen and could not happen because it was born of the greatest ancestry and oldest form of music . All that changes are formats and adaptations, the core remains unshaken,” he told us.
Undoubtedly, musicians are open for experimentation today. It is rightly said that one born of classical roots has a vast knowledge and presence of mind about how deep to probe and take the essence to the next level. Ghosh is an ideal example. Said he, “It is impossible to dilute the true essence of pure classical music but enhancing it along with Western, fusion embellishments do no wrong. We are editing it so that our successors can accept it widely and enjoy it but not at the expense of compromising its true identity. Fusion is an altogether different genre with a different style, which has given classical musicians an alternative space with an added advantage.”
Ghosh confessed, “I think it is my luxury that I am able to swap genres and I enjoy the recourse that I have. Classical and fusion both make me excited but at the end I have a special corner for classical. Classical tabla playing is my core work and I love it from the bottom of my heart.” His take on commercialisation is a bit practical. He said, “One has to admit that until the artists are not paid, how will they surviveIJ Our profession is to deliver good music and charge for it. It is not bad to support one’s living. Moreover, any good artist with high repute will never compromise on his skill during a public performance. Artistes have the rare ability to make music accessible to all kinds of people. So you can’t debunk their efforts at popularising art forms.”
Which is why Ghosh likes working with Sonu Nigam. The duo will collaborate in the Saregama video series where they will be recreating some old hits. The artist also is busy with his own Indo-classical fusion band, Rhythmscape, high on energy and popularity. Said Ghosh, “The idea was to showcase that Indian classical music can be really cool with a lot of grooving and jamming.” He is further collaborating on background scores for both Hindi and Bengali films.
Complimenting Saregama’s initiative, Ghosh said, “I think there is a re-awakening of classical music that they are doing through their app. There is an increase in the number of classical concerts, which show that it is always in demand.” Ghosh is confident about the success of this digital twist, saying the videos are very crisp, presentable and updated.