SaReGaMa is trying to take Indian classical music to the masses. They will soon bring in a new programme, Classical Studio, which will offer a unique mix of legendary classical music masters performing in the backdrop of India's greatest monuments. People can download the SaReGaMa app on their smart phones and listen at leisure.
Under the series is featured Ustad Shujaat Khan, who hails from the Imdadi gharana and is the son of Ustad Vilayat Khan. He has been trying to take classical music to newer frontiers. He took a few questions from The Hindu. Excerpts:
Every year there is a controversy about Padma awards. How do you look at this?
This is all politically motivated. One has to have a good political network if he/she wants to be honoured. As far as I am concerned I am not at all interested in such awards nor do I have the time and patience to go and sit at the MLA's or MP's office. Instead of getting such awards, I want to do things which can remain in the memory of the audience for a long time.
As a classical musician, you are said to be doing a lot to take music to newer places. Please elaborate.
Most of my concerts have been done outside India. I have performed at places where even the bigger names of Bollywood cannot. I have performed at places like the Carnegie Hall in New York, Royal Albert Hall in London and the Royce Hall in Los Angeles. Here I must add that India is known all over the world through its culture, music, art and tradition. These are the only things the world is attracted to about India.
How has the audience evolved over the last 30-35 years that you have been performing?
The response of the audience is the same. It has not changed. Classical music is not for the masses. People who come to our concerts know what they are going to listen and they enjoyed it before and they enjoy it now. Nowadays you can see a lot of youngsters enjoying classical music.
In the common man's perception, Bollywood is supposed to be the global ambassador of the country. How far do you agree?
This is not true, as I have mentioned earlier, it is the music, culture and tradition we are known for internationally. What is Bollywood doing, just copying Hollywood films. It is a big industry here but we can never say that it is our global ambassador.
How do you look at youngsters today? Are they more interested in Bollywood or still interested in classical music?
Bollywood songs come and go very fast. It is a temporary thing but classical music is to stay for ever. We can see many youngsters attending our concerts. They enjoy them a lot not only in India but other countries too.
