The latest issue of 'Outlook' magazine has a very telling cover story. It's about our aging music maestros. And the million dollar question. After them who? On a similar plane it also reminds me of Javed Akhtar and Gulzar Saheb...After them who? Artists always capture the happenings around in their work or musings...
Here's a compilation of their laments from the Outlook issue. (So advertisng is not the only indusrtry that's facing a talent crunch!)
"Aaj ki hawa hi kharaab hai." - Dadra and Thumri singer, Girija Devi
"There's lack of patience in the young, who want to hit the stage just after 2-3 years of learning." - Buddhadev Dasgupta
"We used to do riyaaz of a taan not by the number of hours but by the number of candles burning out. We would aspire to be a paanch-mombatti-riyaazi. That spirit is missing today" - Late Ustad Vilayat Khan
" A lot of today's gurus are performers, have one foot here, the other abroad. When will they teach?" - Hari Prasad Chaurasia
" It is rare to get a guru. It is equally rare to get a good disciple. Every performer is not an able guru. Not many have the patience for teaching." - Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
" Audiences aren't discerning any more. Earlier, they would catch a single note that went awry." - Sitarist Debu Chaudhary
"We build grand stadiums, but we do not have a concert hall of the calibre of London's Royal Albert Hall or Sydney's Opera House. What kind of message are we giving to youngsters about the respect given to classical music" - Amzad Ali Khan
"Many aspirig musicians have to kill their talent, because they have to earn their living from fields other than music." Hari Prasad Chaurasia
" It's also an era of stage-managed success where professional agencies are roped in to 'manage' the public image of star children and disciples." - Debu Chaudhary
"Crores of rupees are being pumped into cricket. How many people does that benefit and what tradition is being kept alive? Even if a fraction of that came to music, we would see a better tomorrow." Girija Devi
As a nation we are pretty poor at preserving either music, monuments or movies...But maybe there's hope! Some super rich NRI/ IITian from the silicon valley with love for music and a conscience will fund the music gharanas...
3 comments:
hey what up? how's it going? stumbled to ur blog thru russell's... a planner from london/delhi.. thought i'd say hello! always interesting to exchange views n i think planning is SO nascent in india.. would be good to get a community going!
"Music is my only friend until the end" once said Morrison. He also said,"When the music is over turn off the light." But that was few decades ago when iPod, Zune and MP3 playback mobile phones were not available. At that point parents used to spend time teaching their children extra-curricular activties. Music (classical & western), embroidery, cooking, paintings were encouraged as a part of their daily routine. With economic liberalization, liberal parents have given in to their wards desire to be cool and hip. So, if you dont find takers in Sharod, you might just find a headbanging, rock-n-roll, gizmo geek in his Pulsar racing to the Sunday Church Choir for the latest gospel gharana.
Louis Bank & Shankar Mahadevan please wake up and take up the cause. Atleast you can find few new age disciples whom you may hear saying "Ma Pop relaxes in the evening with a Girija Devi Vinyl."
Virigin Music, Times Music, EMI, T Series, Sony Music ... wake up...dont you want loyal, young consumers for your brand.
hello...there is a software snag in my office. cant access my blog. which explains the 12 hr delay in response! yes an online planning community in India would be a great thing..looks like indian planners who blog are not many in number! but it's a good start however small...
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