‘Musical shows are high on visual score’

Sugandha Mishra from the Apeejay College of Fine Arts in Jalandhar is just 21, and she’s already a veteran in classical music. Since the age of three, a good number of awards, prizes and scholarships have come her way. In a tête-à-tête with Minna Zutshi, she talks about the highs and lows of her swar sadhna

‘The focus is on camera-friendly faces that can be made to sound sweet.’ — Photo by Pawan Sharma

What has been the most musical moment of your life?

When I was 12, I sang in the Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan that has a hallowed tradition dating back to more than a century. It was as if the entire cosmos had conspired to create a sweet melody for me. I was thrilled to the marrow of my bones when I got the first prize.

Whosoever decides to go in for classical music knows that it would not be a cakewalk. You have to go through the hard grind to become a classical musician. And youngsters with a penchant for shortcuts may find the going tough.

But it’s clear that without your guru, you are as good as lost. I learnt the first swar under the guidance of my grandpa, Pandit Shanker Lal Mishra, who has been the direct disciple of the late Ustad Amir Khan of Indore, Pandit Bhola Nath Bhatt of Allahabad and Pandit Narayan Rao Joshi of Gwalior.

Talent contests spawn an unhealthy competition among youngsters. Your take.

These contests provide a platform to youngsters. Doubtless, there’s a commercial interest. But that’s fine. These shows are high on the visual score because that’s what the audience wants. You have to accept that music is becoming visual, rather tantalisingly visual, with major focus on attractive, camera-friendly faces that can be made to sound sweet.

That’s absolutely true. Classical music is trying to strike a harmonious note in a cacophony of discordant voices. But I believe that the beauty of classical music makes it immortal. It will strum back with a vengeance. "And the night shall be filled with music,

Both in music and mimicry, sound memory is important. It’s a pleasure to mimic the soft yet firm style of Sonia Gandhi. I also like to recreate the sounds of mandolin, violin and drum.

Music is not about winning a competition or bagging a prize in a contest. It’s more about giving your melody its rightful place. Of course, when you participate in competitions and get a string of prizes, your ego is stroked.

Last year, I won five first prizes in the national youth fest. It sounded so good! These days, I am getting a government scholarship for classical music. It makes me happy because I feel it is the right step in my swar sadhna.

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