Audiences respond to a musician — serious music attracts serious listeners: Madhup Mudgal

Amongst the oldest music schools in India, the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya is celebrating the 75th year of its existence. This institution has seen legends of Indian classical music, from Bade Ghulam Ali Khan to Bhimsen Joshi, perform on its grounds. Its director and vocalist Madhup Mudgal spoke with Malini Nair about teaching classical music today, the greats of the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya — and how Ali Akbar Khan spent time before catching a flight:
What is the biggest challenge in teaching classical music now? Is there a decline in young students?
Actually, the number of students is increasing — we have to turn away applicants because we don't have enough space! The bigger challenge is finding good teachers.So, we're instructing our senior students in teaching as well. The results have been encouraging. The lack of time and pressures of daily life make it difficult to stick to some traditional tenets. But i insist students don't just learn for a curriculum but for the love of learning as well.
About 60% students take up music as a hobby, a few because they love it — a bare 5% learn to become professional musicians. This percentage hasn't changed over the decades. These students are taught separately in the gurukul fashion. They are not bound by ideas like number of classes, time-table, etc. They learn just like we did, with passion, at leisure, exploring the music, allowing it to seep into their blood.
Have performing spaces shrunk?
Not really. There are more avenues to perform at now. A few decades ago, you only got to hear music at baithaks in the homes of the rich or at select venues. Today, there are so many platforms.
But there are no income guarantees. And there are talented youngsters who don't get a break fast enough.
Can you share some memories of your legendary musical institution?
Well, when we started, we were a five-room house. When classes were on, the home would wind up — when classes ended it would go back to being a home. We did our homework in the courtyard, music playing like a background score to our daily lives.
As children, we didn't know the greatness of the people passing through our home. I must have been 10 when Vinayakrao Patwardhan passed me on the stairs. I was humming. He called out, "You must learn singing." I cheekily replied, "So teach me!" without any idea of whom i was addressing.
Amitabh Bachchan would come for Madhu-shala's staging. Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Hirabai Barodekar, there wasn't a single great who didn't stay at our home. Once, Ali Akbar Khan was playing the sarod. He had a flight at 5 am — and he simply played till he had to leave.
Delhi was a cultural desert in the early '60s. We introduced Pandit Jasraj to Delhi audiences in 1967. I remember my father cajoling the listeners, "Do hear him."
Are there sincere audiences for classical music today?
I find the same set of audiences behaves differently at different concerts. They tune into the attitude of the organisers. They are fidgety and raucous at starry events, subdued and meditative at serious concerts.
Audiences also respond to the attitude of the musician — serious music always attracts serious listeners.