Are there musicians out there who will carry the legacy of Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Vilayat Khan forward?
Are there musicians out there who will carry the legacy of Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Vilayat Khan forward?
Indian classical music is in a state of churn. The passing away of the grand old maestros Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Ustad Vilayat Khan has given way to the next generation, most of whom are already in their 60s and fairly conservative in outlook. But upcoming musicians, now in their 30s, are already starting to make a mark. They have learnt music in the gharana style, have a strong sense of tradition and legacy, and they know what the audience wants from them. In an age of collaborative and fusion music, where concerts are shorter and every performance is about how much can be delivered in 60 minutes on stage, these young stalwarts are starting to express themselves differently from the ustads of the past. Purbayan Chatterjee was encouraged to play the sitar at the age of four by his father Parthapratim Chatterjee, a disciple of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. He thinks global but wants to remain rooted in Indian traditions.
Bhuvnesh Komkali, the grandson of the legendary Kumar Gandharva and son of Mukul Shivputra, is culturally conservative even though his grandfather is considered a rebel who created his own singing idiom. Tabla player Rimpa Siva is a child prodigy who was taught to play in the Farrukhabad Gharana style by her father Swapan Siva, and has performed with legends such as flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. A word of caution: these faces of the future should not fritter away the legacy they have inherited. They must maintain the thin line between professional virtuosity and musical knowledge. It is easy to get carried away by the razzmatazz of fusion music but they should not deviate from their goal of good, meditative music.
WHAT'S ON
Working with Shekhar Kapoor and A.R.Rahman on Qyuki.com
KNOWN FOR
Fusing classical music with various genres of world music
WHAT'S UP NEXT
'Sitarway To Heaven', a single that explores Led Zeppelin's classic 'Stairway to Heaven' on the sitar
WHAT HE LIKES
Hollywood movies, gadgets
"It is satisfying to know that I am here because of my talent and not because i am so-and-so's son."
WHAT'S ON
When not accompanying Pandit Jasraj or Hariprasad Chaurasiya on the tabla, she performs with the band Rhythm of Bandish
KNOWN FOR
Dexterity, speed, clarity of sound
WHAT'S UP NEXT
Help young musicians who need a platform
WHAT SHE LIKES
Discussing music with students,watching old Hindi films
"I haven't achieved much yet, but whatever I have, it's all because of my father, who was not just a parent but a guide and a coach."
WHAT'S ON
Apart from performing, he is archiving and digitising all writings, musical compositions and recordings of Kumar Gandharva.
KNOWN FOR
Soulful music in the tradition of Gandharva
WHAT'S UP NEXT
Collaborate with fellow musicians
WHAT HE LIKES
Badminton, long drives
"People say they are touched by my voice. it's too early to create and innovate. My journey has just begun."
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