The classical music is a class of our country. But unfortunately the great exponent of this field did not popularize it. Before the invent of electronic media the maestro of classic music never tried to take the effort to popularize it. Apart from this it was the property of certain Gharans, Pandits and Ustad.Rather they tried to pass it to their childrens. The common man thought that these are the trade secret, which are meant to those people. Certain caste and sect practiced this only. Some times the commoner are scoffed off as if it is not the every body%u2019s cup of tea. But presently it is the electronic media who is not finding economically viable to put them in their programme. Now it needs to manage it as a product, which can be understand by, every one if give some little effort. Therefore it should be simplified grammatically and reproduce.A serious Rethought is necessary.
SITAR - Shahid Parvez, Nilhadri Kumar, Harshankar Bhattacharya, Indrajeet banerjee and many more SAROD - Zarin Sharma, Basant kabra TABLA - This place is too small to mention the immensely talented players FLUTE - Nityanand haldiput, Rajendra Prasanna VOCALISTS - As with tabla space not enough still someone like a Jayashree Patnekar, Shubhada paradkar can enthrall and leave you mesmerised. If we dont get to hear more from these stalwarts i dont think its the artists's problem. As each of their concerts are jam packed if any. Marketing and Branding is the culprit.
RE:Ignorance is Bliss
by navin aysola on Sep 29, 2007 03:58 PM
Dear Naren, I'm not sure how old you are but you seem to be keeping a track of Indian Classical music. One tabla artist I watched and was blown away was Rimpa Siva.. and ofcourse Bickram Ghosh .. and yes Niladri is also special. Well I'm the creative director of RAVE Magazine
RE:Ignorance is Bliss
by sanjay karkhanis on Sep 29, 2007 05:41 PM
I attend the Savai Ghandharva music Fest in Puen every year for the last 7 years and i find bigger and bigger crowds esp the younger generation... Classical Music will survive .......
The authors have not given an entire picture of the whole country. They have concentrated their studies only on the northern part of our country and they have simply ignored "Karnatic Music", which is still very popular and alive all over the world. In the southern states, many artists are still devoted to this anicient classical music and people are still taking keen interest. Even the parents are very much interested in giving training to their children through great artists. The authors have just gone to some newly born music shops gave a very bad picture of the classical music. They have ignored the stalwarts of the classical music like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Thyagaraja Swamigal, M S Subbalakshmi, Swathi Thirunal, Maharajapuram Santhanam and many and the living legends like Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Kunnakkudi Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Dr. K.J. Yesudas and so on. It is very heartening to see that young people in the southern states are doing research on Classical Music and even the film industry in the south is giving prompt place for karnatic music. Regarding the music industry, CDs and cassettes of karnatic music are still hot cakes in the market in the southern states and abroad. So before coming to a conclusion, the authors could have made a deep study all over the country and not a regional study and give a final study report. At least these young journalists should not follow the so called "Madrasi concept" prevailing in the northern states
RE:Incomplete Study
by GS sreenivas on Sep 30, 2007 06:52 PM
Thanks Nair, The Article depicts only Northern version while ignoring the legends of South .they had totally ignored the fact that thousands of musicians gather during Thyagaraja Aradhana which can be demonstrated how alive is classical music in South.
RE:Incomplete Study
by desai srihari on Sep 30, 2007 09:35 AM
Nair saab, they are talking about death of classical music..which is correct..only Hidustani music is dying and NOT Carnatic music. Carnatic is very much alive and flourishing..that's why there is no mention of it in the article.
RE:Incomplete Study
by rajkumar vaikhari on Sep 29, 2007 07:21 PM
I agree sir, this article is ONLY north based- it ignores the south completely. carnatic music is not only alive - it is growing!
No doubt that the above are among the greats. This article (knowingly or unknowingly) missed some of the greatest of legends in Indian clasical music. To name a few from the field I know a bit (Carnatic).
1. MS.Subbulakshmi- the great legend. 2. Valayappatti Subramanian- percussionist 3. Jesudass, 4. Kunnakkudi Vaidhyanathan 5. Lalgudi Jayaraman 6. L.subramanian, 7. Rajarathnam Pillai of Tiruvaroor 8. Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar. 9. Semmangudi Srivivasan 10 And many more ................
As the great Thyagaraja sang "Endharo Mahanubhavulu..." (Means-Innumerable greats lived in this country")
I am sure that we have much bigger list from other regional/national forms of music. Somehow, it seems that the author feels only hindustani music is "Indian music". Some people deliberately create controversies to come to lime light-the author also seems one among them.
RE:Addition to the above list
by ashok leyland on Sep 30, 2007 02:57 PM
This is typical Delhi-Mumbaicentric journalism. However even in the south little is done beyond the Cheenai classical music festival at national level. Some 10-12 years ago I know that an Tamil architect proposed the restoration and conservaiton of the ancient Gangaikondacholapuram complex to house a Veena making and music school, the reply given by the state CULTURAL minister himself a cultured gentleman, was that there was no future for such venture, that no one would go there. Such shortsighted political thinking is what curtails the development of our culture, maybe the fact that it was an Indian and not a foreigner who worked on the project free of cost, was why it was held in little consideration. After all if the govt. paid a foreigner (with little or no knowledge of our culture) through the nose to undertake the project,it would have been taken up, with flashy photos of the smiling political leaders shaking hands with the whites at the inauguration.Glory to them. As it is the project was shelved and the temple complex has been repaired (not restores) using cement mortar and PWD workmanship which we know will last until the rain washes the "cement" away and the bricks crumble. So much so for respect for classical music - classical architecture - classical art.
RE:Addition to the above list
by Sheetal Kaur on Oct 01, 2007 03:50 AM
It may be that this culture minister did not get a share in the venture his/her name was not mentioned in the front page nor the picture appeared. Bribe him/her give a back hander and you will see how far this project goes.there will be no stopping.
No doubt that the above are among the greats. This article (knowingly or unknowingly) missed some of the greatest of legends in Indian clasical music. To name a few from the field I know a bit (Carnatic).
1. MS.Subbulakshmi- the great legend. 2. Valayappatti Subramanian- percussionist 3. Jesudass, 4. Kunnakkudi Vaidhyanathan 5. Lalgudi Jayaraman 6. L.subramanian, 7. Rajarathnam Pillai of Tiruvaroor 8. Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar. 9. Semmangudi Srivivasan 10 And many more ................
As the great Thyagaraja sang "Endharo Mahanubhavulu..." (Means-Innumerable greats lived in this country")
I am sure that we have much bigger list from other regional/national forms of music. Somehow, it seems that the author feels only hindustani music is "Indian music". Some people deliberately create controversies to come to lime light-the author also seems one among them.
On the contrary,i find...barring a few ,if someone is hellbent to prove her point...people from the classical music genre are the most humble people in any profession...unlike their counterparts from popular industry with their craze for name, fame & currency .
Often you will find performers, judges & Gurus with 30/40/50 years of life into music very humbly declare that they are still learning from their gurus...they don't know anything elsein this world ...giving clear message to youngsters ...to be a master you got to be humble...hardly people know what all lifetime efforts & sacrifice go into mastering these renditions over the generations and how little is paid or appreciated by audience...
Indian classical music is a great tradition ...it was not intended to be an industry...it is upto the society to decide whether they want to keep it alive or throw it to market forces & their salaried critiques to decide the "break even"...world over societies preserve ,protect,promote & pay for what is your identity ...they do not allow fusion,adaptation,rationalisation ,modernisation to sell it in CDs & cassettes...retention is the key not the transformation...with changing times...where desi pop,remix,vulgar folks sells like hot cakes ...
Repackaging is a good solution for soaps,shampoos & potato chips...to promote sales...what has survived over hundreds of years ...without music industry will continue...if treated as tradition & cultural identity ...and even if it is r
RE:Repackaging V/s immortal.
by sunil mulye on Sep 29, 2007 12:49 PM
rooted in religion ...better not to temper ...because may be inspiration came from there ...and more importantly ...it's message is humane & beautiful...
And clasic music is classical music...and india is not the only country to have classical music...so comparing them in terms of north v/s south...indian v/s western will be only foolish...enjoy the difference ...relish the beauty...south is better than north or otherwise is visible sign of narrow mindedness...people writing such comments prove that they are from audience (not from practising community) who crowd classical music concerts to tell others they attended such program...and bask in that publicity.
Sir, Hindustani classical music suffered because immediatly after independence all Muslim artistes were ignored and only Hindu artistes were encouraged. Many good and senior muslim musican never got any awards and scholorships but unknown Hindu artistes given big awards and monetory scholorships.
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by ravi ullal on Sep 29, 2007 12:38 PM
The refrain that muslim artistes were ignored is nonsense. This is one field along with cricket where the connosieurs and govt alike have never differentiated between communities. please do not bring up this oft repeated and hackneyed issue Ravishankar
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by Amir Khedekar on Sep 29, 2007 12:38 PM
Dear Jameelji, looking to your view i think you are very wrong because if you see the list given last there are mostly muslim artist like Ali Akbar Khan, Zakirji, Rashid Khan. And how any one forget Bismilla Khanji, he is Bharat ratna and they desrved that honour.
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by Ravi on Sep 29, 2007 12:38 PM
Muslims like you are used to whining about anything and everything around you all your life, can't help it cos rest of us need to move on. Anything that is marketed well will sell for sure. If the instant song remixes can sell well, I dont see why anyone wouldn't want to try classical music too. First try to get rid of the impression that classical music is only the privilege of few hot headed chavinists out there. Second try to educate the people about this creative art through institutions. Thirdly remember that classical music is facing extinction only in our subcontinent region while it is still well received in the western world. So we need to think in a different direction to come out of this crisis while some of the muslims continue to harp their naive judgements in their own imaginary world.
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by Mohammed Hussain on Sep 29, 2007 12:43 PM
This is not true ...in India muslim classical music artists ( as a matter of fact all muslim artists) get immense respect & I wonder whether they would have got the same if they had been in any Muslim country.....pls do not lie & make a bad reputation of the Muslims.
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by Raj Mohan on Sep 29, 2007 12:45 PM
You can't be further away from truth. Muslim artistes were regarded equal or even higher than Hindu artists from time immemorial. The reasons for this are quite debatable. Look at the Hindustani classical singers from 1900, and you will realise this truth. Even now, a muslim Hindustani singer can command a higher fee than an equal Hindi singer.
RE:RE:Hindustani clasical music
by Raj Mohan on Sep 29, 2007 12:50 PM
I meant, Hindu singer. I am a die hard fan of classical music, and I am also a deeply religious Hindu. But I listen to Muslim hindustani singers as much as I listen to Hindu singers, and I respect each one for what he/she is. All music lovers that I know of, behave similarly. Guys like you who have no idea of what music is, just make comments based on information injected into you by religious fanatics. Don't bring religion into Music.
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by ABHINANDAN KALGHATGI on Sep 29, 2007 01:34 PM
When Gangubai sings "Karim Naam Tero" nobody asks whether it is Ram or Rahim. That is Indian Classical music
RE:Hindustani clasical music
by ramachandran padinharepurayil on Sep 29, 2007 01:26 PM
Dear Jaleel, Please, I repeat please do not, pull religion in Music. Music is divine and it has no barriers. The music lovers never look whether it is sung by a Muslim or Hindu. You are well aware that the great legends like Bismilla Khan, Zakir Hussain, Akbar Ali Khan, Allah Rakha and many more..... are Muslims and how much they are respected and valued in India and Abroad. They are the gems of India. They are all honoured.
