It is only when a singer is able to attain a state of egolessness that he creates good music. Egolessness is that emotional high of having no self, that feeling of being nothing but a very small part of the universe; of having no distinct existence other than the world around oneself.
It is to this that we attribute our success," said noted Hindustani classical singer Rajan Mishra. Agreeing, his younger brother Sajan Mishra emphasises that every living being has the potential to realise awakening. And by entering the meditative state of voidness, an artist brings to the surface the best in him. The singer duo Rajan-Sajan Mishra talked to The Pioneer about music and their philosophy, the current trend of music composition in Bollywood and other subjects.
What was your childhood likeIJ
Rajan Mishra: We inherited a 400 years old music heritage. It was like on being born, we opened our eyes to a world thriving on music. We started training at the age of five. While growing up, though we loved music, like other children of our age we were keen on being naughty. I remember how as children, we tried to bunk our music training to play only to be dragged back home by our Gurus. But we were lucky because our Gurus were our fathers who stressed on our overall development. Often, in families with centuries of musical lineage, music training becomes the centre point at the cost of others. However, while keeping us focused on music, our fathers ensured that we also paid adequate attention to academics and sports.
Sajan Mishra: Both of us have been avid sportsmen, having been good cricketers and badminton players throughout our youth. Our Gurus said that sports was necessary to stay healthy even as singers and it is thanks to them that even at this age we feel fit. Even now we love watching cricket. Our fathers also encouraged us to become academically qualified. I am an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University while Rajanji is a postgraduate in sociology.
You still have a very close-knit joint family. What is your take on traditional Indian family systemIJ
Rajan Mishra: Joint family provides a strong support system that helps people develop better. Even in the West now, some communities frustrated with the limitations of nuclear families are now experimenting with a joint family system. From the economical point of view, people can live better and save more by living together.
What defines Khayal style of singingIJ
Rajan Mishra: Khayal means thought, and this style of singing is essentially a manifestation of the musician's ideas. Improvisation or individual interpretation and experimentation of a particular piece while sticking to the roots of a raga is called khayal singing.
What is your process of singingIJ
Rajan Mishra: Our improvisation draws from the atmosphere. The microphone, accompanying artists, the audience, our moods; it is endless. At times, when our moods are particularly calm, we sing one raga for many hours.
Sajan Mishra: We have been performing together for 45 years and not once have we decided in advance what we are going to sing. Our jugalbandi has always been spontaneous and driven by what the audience wants to hear.
And what is the secret to your onstage chemistryIJ
Sajan Mishra: Having grown up together, we understand each other very well. We attribute our on stage chemistry to our mutual brotherly love, our total surrender to the larger being and God's blessings.
What makes a good singerIJ
Rajan Mishra: Excellence in music can be achieved only when an artist sees divinity in music; when one sings only for personal pleasure not for applause, glamour or money. It is only when you surrender that the universe collaborates to support you. Why does one feel happy in a hill stationIJ It is because we get a sense of egolessness. Standing amidst lofty mountains, when we realise how small we are. Whenever in our lives we get rid of our ego, we excel and feel supreme happiness. And music is a great source of bliss.
How has your singing impacted youIJ
Rajan Mishra: We are now entering a phase where we are in a quest for pleasing our souls with our music. Whenever we attempt to make our spirits happy through our singing, we sense its impact on the audience. Even listeners who do not know classical music become one and enjoy with us, as we also experience while performing in Europe.
Our fathers always said, 'you need to smell the fragrance of music to be a good singer.'Music is intangible but omnipotent, like God. Swar mein 'e' lag jaata hai toh woh eeshwar ban jaata hai, aur woh e tab lagta hai jab ahankaar (ego) kamm hota hai.
Bollywood music today…:
Sajan Mishra: We composed music for Sur Sangam with laxmikant-Pyarelal as its music directors. That phase of Bollywood was different when music directors were people well trained in music. They respected, understood and appreciated classical music which has changed now. A person with inadequate, minimal knowledge of music claims fame as a music director.
Also, digital instruments and recording software have completely changed how music is composed today.
Contemporary Bollywood music lacks a soul. It doesn't have that long-lasting effect; that depth of a real acoustic symphony. It is only about dubbing today.
This is worrisome. I remember while doing the music for working for Ilya Raja's Tamil film, the instrumentalists told us that they had all collected at the studio for a recording after a period of 15 years! There is nothing like the feel of an ensemble of real violins, Sarangi and Sitar playing together real. That is the music that stays with us.
Rajanji, your dream..
Rajan Mishra: That I live only as long as I can sing; my music is my oxygen.
To you success is ..
Sajan Mishra: Success is not about winning awards or titles; nor about having an ostentatious lifestyle. To me, success is in being loved by people and in having a simple value-based living.