Classical music does not need pop
PANDIT Hari Prasad Chaurasia is an
internationally acclaimed flautist. He is a rare artiste
with a perfect control over his instrument and a deep
knowledge of classical music. His name is identified with
the North Indian bamboo flute which
he is responsible for popularising not only in India but
also abroad. In his hands, the flute of green bamboo
comes alive yielding to his whims and impulses in
spontaneous submision. Surprisingly, he comes from a
family which had no tradition of music. He wishes to pass
on the tradition to anyone who will devote his time and
life to this tradition. Lately he has opened three
schools of music in three corners of the world. These
schools are based on the age-old concept of gurukul,
the concept of guru-shishya. In this interview
with Ravi
Ranjan
about music and its present excerpts:
Of late, you have
been so busy that you (together with Shiv Kumar Sharma)
declined the offer of composing music for Yash
Chopras last film Dil to Pagal Hai
despite knowing that Yash Chopra always comes to you for
the music of his films. What prompted you to say no to
your close friend?
Ans: Yash is a very good
friend of ours. After discussing at length, we reached
the conclusion that our time could not be adjusted. On
dates when he is free, I am in California or Germany. And
on dates when Shiv and I are free, Yash had to put his
finished material on the editing table as per schedule.
You see, a film is a medium in which a producer has to
coordinate with all the people involved in the process.
So many people the Yash had to look for some other
composer as he wanted to finish his film in a very
limited time. I refused Dil To Pagal Hai because
of time constraints. Why should not other people be given
a chance.
What are you doing in
Germany and California?
I am Artistic Director
of Rotterdam Music Universitys Department of Indian
Music. It keeps me very busy, I have to spend about two
to three months a year for it. In San Franscisco I have
opened my own gurukul. Actually I have opened two other
gurukuls in Mumbai and Hongkong. They keep me very busy.
What are you supposed
to do as an Artistic Director of RM University?
In the university, we
have students from all over the world. There are various
departments of Rock, Jazz, classical music etc. I have to
select students and assign them vocal groups
either vocal or instrumental of depending upon their
interest and capabilities, I design their course and
teach as well.
Human vocal chords
develop according to the cultural environment of the
region. Dont think that to teach foreign students
our classical music tradition is much more harder than
training people of our own country?
Definitely. People from
various countries have a different range. Some find it
difficult to go to the upper range and some to lower
octane. Even instruments have problems. Girls do not have
the stamina to blow into the flute for a long time. Their
fingers may not be long enough and sometimes they are so
thin that they dont cover the holes effectively and
then the sounds are not effectively managed. One has
limitations but there are many things in music which are
universal. These common factors help in the learning
process.
Do you keep an eye
over the western tradition of music while teaching the
intricacies of Indian classical music?
I encourage them to
bring about effective variations in their musical
concerts, blending western with English. I would not go
for fusion. Fusion becomes adulteration and that is
killing the spirit of both styles. I would prefer a
variation keeping in the mind the two schools of music.
How are your gurukuls
progressing?
There are about 100
students in all in these three gurukuls. They are
learning music in the true spirit of guru-shishya
parampara. I select students and do not charge any
fees at all from them. Otherwise it will become a regular
school, a commercial venture where whosoever can pay the
fees takes admission. I do not want money to become the
criterion because then students dont have total
faith in the teacher or Guru so the Guru
must take care of their needs as he does of his own
children. These are my adopted children and I love them
as do my own.
Wouldnt you
charge any Gurudakshina as per the
tradition of Guru-shishya parampara?
For gurudakshina
want them to propagate whatever they imbibe. I would wish
them to open more gurukuls and impart teaching to
more and more children.
Recently a tradition
of mixing pop with Indian classical is in vogue.
Musicians like Shubha
Mudgal, Shafqat Ali Khan and late Nusrat Ali Khan have
compromised with the purity of Indian classical music.
What do you feel about this trend.
I am not in favour of
classical and pop joining hands. Younger generation is
doing disservice by adopting this. I feel if one needs to
make a name for oneself one can offer something original.
Kabir Das, Tulsi Das or Surdas were similar yet so
different and so original. Kabir did not have to write in
English to become popular, Mira did not take refuge in
pop to be popular. Classical music does not require pop
to make it appealing. It is like saying the sun
should be made more attractive by lighting it with Bajaj
tubes and bulbs, or Mount Everest be made more august by
planting trees on it!
Do you think that
Indian classical music is becoming more popular in the
West than it is in India?
Classical music had
become more popular in the West but now Indian youth is
turning towards it. In my concert there are a lot of
youngsters. Even todays programme had small
children who pestered their parents to come even on a
Sunday which is generally a day of relaxation. The
younger generation in India has realised that MTV is not
enduring. Its like you can have burger and pizza
once in a while but your basic good remains the same.
Your own children
have not carried away your tradition!
My children are my
students. My own three sons had no inclination for music
and I never forced them. They are now well settled in
their profession with their families.
What about your wife?
My wife involved in the
production of a serial called, Sadhana a music
programme based on the lives of musical legends. It ran
for 13 episodes and then Doordarshan decided to scrap it.
Now she is making Swar Sandhya for Star TV. I
mostly stay out and she gets bored alone, so she keeps
herself busy.
Are you doing any
film?
I am working for Yash
Chopras next movie. His son Aditya did ask me but I
told him, "Let us be with your father and you give a
chance to others too." We will also be doing a film
with K. Vishwanath. Its a musical but detailed
discussions have not taken place as yet.
You have your roots
in classical, dont you find film music distasteful?
Films music. That is
also music, why should we not do it? If given the right
theme I would definitely like to give music for films.
In the present
scenario of war, would you like to perform in Pakistan?
I believe cultural
exchange should continue. If invited with due respect, I
will definitely go to Pakistan because I have faith in
humanity. Compulsions of a different order which is
making these men pick up guns. This is Kalyug. If
you are given a pistol then for even a small problem you
will take out the pistol. In adverse situation, people
are being given money to kill and poor people find it
easily to earn. There are only few people who are
misguided. Should you become inhuman and uncultured just
because a few are insane!
As far as Ravi
Shankar is concerned, do you think that he was the right
choice for Bharat Ratna?
Bharat Ratna was like an
Indian equivalent of Nobel prize but with a horde of
people getting it, it has lost its charm. What does the
committee know of musical talent I feel broad based
voting should be conducted where a musical institute of
repute from each state should be involved. I have due
regards for RaviJi. But Bismillah Khan saheb
deserves it more than anyone else. He has brought such
repute to shehnai which was only played during
marriages and for many years he performed on every
Republic Day sincerely and without a break. May be after
him Raviji could have been honoured.
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