The sound of music

Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt needs no introduction in the world of music. Creator of Mohan Veena and winner of Grammy Award, Bhatt has taken Indian classical music to new heights. Over the years he has become the cultural ambassador of India. The government has also recognised his contribution to Indian music by awarding him Padma Shri. Even after around four decades of his music career, this foremost disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar is scripting new success stories every day. Perneet Singh in conversation with Bhatt in Jaipur.

Excerpts:

A. I belong to a family where the tradition of music has been followed for the past 300 years. Music runs in our blood. Sometimes what happens is that if something is in your genes then you don’t have to learn it, I also felt the same way about music. This was like my beginning. My mother, father, brothers and sisters were all devoted to the Indian classical music. I would listen to my parents singing when they taught various students and music just got into my system automatically.

A. Actually a girl from Germany came to learn music from my father. She was a guitar player who wanted to learn Indian classical music on her guitar. I was 14 years old at that time and was rather attracted to the girl as well as the guitar. But finally I chose the guitar. I started by little bit changing the instrument and making it suitable for playing Indian classical music. I was used to the sound of sitar, which I had played for quite some time. I managed 20 strings in my instrument as against six strings in the usual one. I replaced those six strings with new ones in a new order as per the requirement of the Indian classical music and named the instrument Mohan Veena.

A. See Mohan Veena is like any other Indian classical instrument. I feel any new thing raises doubts during its initial days. However, when you convince the people and show them the possibilities, the acceptance comes naturally. In my own family even my brother didn’t imagine that it would reach those heights. But my mother said, "Don’t worry about anything go ahead, you will rule this world one day". I convinced everyone — orthodox, traditional, and the so-called purists. Earlier, people thought that khayal techniques like baraah gun ki taan and others could not be played on Mohan Veena but I proved them wrong. The biggest advantage that Mohan Veena has over the traditional Indian instruments like sitar and sarod is that it allows us to play the Tantrakari Ang and incorporate the Gayaki Ang.

A. Mohan Veena has a regular guitar neck, which has a joint in between. Once when I had to perform in Montreal this neck broke. My concert was scheduled for the next day and thanks to super glue I got the instrument repaired in time. At that time Salil realised that this should not happen. He then came out with Satwik Veena, which is an all-wood instrument, as opposed to the metal counterparts on a Mohan Veena. Though it is a different instrument altogether, the string arrangement is exactly as mine.

A. I think what we are witnessing today is the golden era for any kind of music, including classical. Availability and accessibility has increased these days, within minutes I can buy or listen to any artists’ recordings on the Internet. The musicians today are well aware of gadgets and Internet and are making full use of technology. It is like some kind of a revolution. Today’s is the most developed form of music and with intelligent young generation I see a bright future as well.

A. I believe society is not doing so much for classical music. People in India like lighter form of music. They would rather prefer Bollywood. Unfortunately they have taken music as a medium of dance. Tell me how many people are willing to elevate their soul, take themselves to a higher level, to be close to God? Not many. Most of them of them want very short shallow kind of entertainment, some bodily excitement, and for that commercialisation took over and then nudity came in, this is a vicious circle. The ultimate aim of Indian classical music is not merely entertainment but this is the music, which purifies your heart, body and soul, and takes you near God where you can talk to Him in a different way. I would suggest that music should be made a compulsory subject in schools. Our young generation should learn about swar and taal in schools. I feel music gives inner strength and makes you a better human being.

A. Very nice. It depends on producer and director. For instance while working for Bawandar Producer Jagmohan Mundhra left everything to me due to which I got immense satisfaction composing for him. I have also given sound track for Dead Man Walking, Two Days in the Valley and Meet the Fockers. Recently I have also composed music for another movie, ‘Empty Street’.

A. Improvisation aspect, the manner in which we improvise, without writing the music, they appreciate it very much. Even if I had so many records, it was all in my mind, most of the time it was improvisation, that really attracts every foreign musician. As far as audience are concerned, I think our instrumental music is more popular abroad as there is no language barrier.

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