Composer Shankar Mahadevan and lyricist Prasoon Joshi launch the anthem for the first edition of MTV India Music Summit. They share their perspective of purity in music with Angela Paljor
Have you ever wondered what would the world look like without musicIJ But the question that we can approach with even greater dread is what would happen if we lose our traditional form of music —be it classical or folk. MTV India Music Submit: Ek Saccha Sur is one such initiative to preserve and nurture the rare variety of Indian music genres — from Hindustani and Carnatic classical to Jazz and folk.
Talking about the initiative and the anthem, Ek Saccha Sur written by lyricist, Prasoon Joshi, he says, “What we have tried to express in the anthem is that we believe in a certain kind of music that needs to be heard. But there are some murmurs in our life which shouldn’t be silenced. And somewhere down the line, we feel responsible for it. Yes, today, we live in a tech friendly world — anyone can upload the kind of music and the content they like. And I feel that every form of music subsumes its identity in the film music of our country. However, the essence and the purity of music are lost — they have become representational.”
His parents were qualified classical vocalists and life at home for the young Joshi was marked with academic discipline, a rich vein of the artistic life and a strong sense of music and culture. “There are two different types of music learners— ones who learn out of pure passion and the others who are taught to appreciate music. And this initiative is an attempt to bring forth the essence of Indian classical and folk music.”
For Shankar it is his passion for classical music that helps him balance between classical and Bollywood music. “Bollywood is very alluring —one gets to travel, earn money along with all the luxuries. I still count myself as a student — always looking forward to learning new forms of music, listenening to new people and the inclination to teach. All these really excite me and it’s essential to keep your passion alive. There is something beyond music, sur, raag, raagani and taal in musicality — which is honesty. And through this summit we are trying to search for one.”
He feels that there is no harm in going beyond barriers and creating fusion in music. “In fact it’s all about experimenting — trying to see what happens when one kind of music combines with another. The curiosity should be there but at the same time, purity should be maintained. It all depends on the environment we are in, what you want to hear — be it the pure form or a blended version. There are only two forms of music, good and bad. And everybody is free to experiment, one can mix heavy metal with Indian classical but it should be aesthetically done. Mix the craziest forms of music and it will sound good.”
However, he stresses on the fact that the new generation should not only learn to respect the traditional forms of music but also consider them as cool. “The greatness of music should be understood. I don’t think the problem is with the consumers. People who present the music to the consumers should do it with conviction and not half-heartedly. Market it well and automatically the consumers will start respecting music.”
Adding to it, Joshi shares, “The most essential part is to make an effort — care for a certain form of music without that things will not happen organically. New things will come, there will be a marriage of ideas. Everything can’t be left to happen. If you believe in something, it’s important to make an effort to preserve it. Not losing what we already have, thus, a need to keep a balance.”
With people having so many platforms to express themselves and the exposure to various forms of art, somewhere down the line we as Indians are losing the real essence of our own culture. Joshi feels that there is room for everything. “When we talk about masses, the definition will be different for everyone. I call them target audience. I come from a small town, in the mountains of Uttarakhand, I love folk music and I always make sure I’m in touch with it. Also, being in a profession where I witness what is working and what’s not — I see people evolving. But being in touch is one thing and to continue with what you believe in is another. While market can tell you what is going to work, but if it stands contrary to what you believe in, you should go with your belief. Only then will the world change and become beautiful. Also, one should not restrict to writing to please other, write what pleases you.”
The summit will be held from October 27 to 29, at the scenic locales of Fairmont, Jaipur. It will be a platform for an array of rich musical experience — from the Thumri master, Girjia Devi to Carnatic classical wonder TM Krishna.
Photo: Pankaj Kumar