“Even if I sing from Sa to (upper) Sa, I should know everything about it. I want to understand what I am doing. I don’t want to follow blindly,” says Rageshri Das, a young Kolkata-based vocalist.
Sourabh Salunke, sitting next to her, has a different set of quandaries to ponder. “My forefathers have been singing for the past 14 generations,” he states, adding that his grandfather and great grandfather were raj gayaks at the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad and at the Manik Prabhu Sansthan, Bidar. His father and guru, Surmani Prakash Singh Salunke, however, has pursued an independent solo career, which Sourabh too wants to follow. “I feel a great responsibility as there are such great singers in my family,” says Sourabh.
What brought Rageshri, hailing from Burdwan, and Sourabh from Pune into contact was their participation in the musical talent hunt spearheaded by veteran vocalist Rita Ganguly in collaboration with Doordarshan. The reality show for ghazal singers, which began last October and ended in January this year, was dedicated to the memory of her guru, Begum Akhtar, as a part of her centennial celebrations, “Jashn-e-Begum Akhtar.”
The finals were held in Delhi and while Rageshri was the winner, Sourabh was the second runner-up. During the earlier rounds held in different regions of the country, musical stalwarts were appointed as judges in each area, but Ganguly followed the proceedings closely as an observer and mentor to the contestants. Thus, aver Rageshri and Sourabh, she has become a guide and inspiration to a large number of young aspiring vocalists, regardless of whether they made it to the finals or not.
One is reminded of the veteran talking about her own guru, who would advise her on how to dress for the stage and interact not just with the audience but with the world in general. Similarly, say the youngsters, Ritaji would tell one singer to sit properly while performing, or point out to another on unbecoming mannerism. Says Rageshri, “When Didi came into the studios it was as if a great light came in. Everyone loved her and gathered round her.”
As two of the top three, Sourabh and Rageshri were invited to Delhi by their mentor to give a baithak style performance at her home on the occasion of her birthday recently. Their brief offerings were redolent with their talent, prodigious technique and uniqueness as individuals.
“I only ever wanted to do work related to music,” says Rageshri, speaking about her education. “My childhood training (in Khayal) was under my father, Purnendu Das. He was a disciple of Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra (of the Benaras gharana) and runs a music institution from home, though otherwise he was a history teacher in a school. I would learn music alongside the other students, but sometimes in the evening there would be one-to-one sessions, and those were khatarnaak ,” she laughs. Her formal training began at the age of two-and-a-half, says Rageshri. While her mother, Krishna Das, is a Rabindra Sangeet singer trained under the eminent Devobrata Biswas, Rageshri as a child could not tolerate the thought of learning Rabindra Sangeet. “I would run to my father if Mummy tried to teach me,” she smiles. She eventually enrolled at Rabindra Bharati University for her Bachelors and Masters degrees in music, in both of which she is a gold medallist. Currently she is pursuing research in Purab Ang Gayaki. Her gurus include Pandit Mohan Lal Mishra and his son Deepak Mishra of the Banaras gharana, as well as Ustad Arshad Ali Khan of the Kirana gharana.
Rabindra Sangeet may have been no draw for her, but the music of Begum Akhtar was magnetic, and so, says Rageshri, when she heard about the reality show for ghazal singers, she sent in her audition tape and was selected.
Sourabh has solely trained under his father, and accompanies him on his concert tours. “He is my university,” says Sourabh, who can’t remember a time when he was not learning music. Sourabh’s mother too is well versed in music, though she doesn’t sing professionally, and has a hand in his riyaaz .
To apply for “Jashn-e-Begum Akhtar” Saurabh sent in a ghazal of Ghulam Ali. “I am a fan of his,” he says shyly. As classically trained singers the two agree their malleable voices might have given them an edge during the competition.
“But,” gasps Rageshri, “the amount we have learnt about ghazal mausiqi itself!” As they name the poets they had not read before, the approach they had not considered, their eyes widen.
Words may be of prime importance in ghazals, but also in their classical training. “It is not a question of the taans you execute, or the voice training you can display,” says Rageshri. “My gurus taught that you build all that musicality on your bandish (composition).”
Sourabh too has learnt to give equal importance to the different elements, “and that includes the bol (lyrics),” he notes.
Sourabh’s father gives him practical advice of a different kind too.
“My father says I should continue classical music but I should be prepared to go into any kind of music, including Bollywood. He once had a chance to sing in films and refused, but he tells me the times have changed.”
Consecrating one’s entire life to the pursuit of greater skill and higher perception in an art is considered a practical impossibility for today’s young people. However, like all generalisations, this one too is inaccurate. Sourabh and Rageshri are just two young practitioners across the country dedicated to just such a pursuit of perfection. The nature of this pursuit, though, ensures they often remain out of the limelight.
Luckily, circumstances combined to bring them into fleeting focus in this teeming country. Sourabh and Rageshri did not know Rita Ganguly personally before this experience. The reality show certainly opened new vistas for them to step out of their relatively small circle of riyaaz and study and on to the national stage. Never mind that the prize money of Rs.10 lakhs, 5 lakhs and 3 lakhs, which, they were given to understand, Doordarshan would make available to the winner and first and second runners-up respectively, has yet to see the light of day!
Speaking of money, Sourabh is currently pursuing his B.Com degree, because, well even a 14th generation singer needs a degree. But, now in his third year, he is looking forward to being free to immerse himself in music alone.
Music is their ocean of love. And these two are clear only those who dive deep come upon the pearls.A
