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On a radical scale

Music needn't be confined to the ivory tower, removed from the larger reality of the day, says musician Shubha Mudgal, who has jumped many barricades of tradition, in a chat with PRASHANTH G.N.

PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K

THE RIGHT STUFF Shubha Mudgal: `You earn gyan, not fame, in a gurukul. Only with gyan comes fame. Gurukul is not a mall where you can buy fame'

Shubha Mudgal has an expressive persona. She is expressive in the way she performs and expressive in her views on music and its connection to the larger social life. Shubha's is an uninhibited style, a deep, vibrant and resonant voice that comes through whether it is a classical or a semi-classical rendition.

This was much in evidence at her concert here last weekend at the Ambekar Bhavan in her rendition of not only the raga Yaman but also the poetic compositions of Vali Deccani, Kabir, Gopal Das Neeraj, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ibn-E-Insha. Aesthetics apart, her performance for the Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum and her choice of compositions (revolving mostly around themes of secularism) are evidence of her conviction that music is not outside politics. Shubha, who has moved from an "illustrious" beginning in classical learning from the likes of Pandit Ram Ashray Jha, Pandit Vinay Chandra Moudgalya, Pandit Vasant Thakar, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Pandit Kumar Gandharva to semi-classical forms of thumri and dadra and, and more recently to pop (like in "Ali More Angana", "Jai Jai Mataram" and "Ab Ke Sawan") is not one bit defensive about her forays. She simply holds that music is there to be explored and to communicate even if it is the uncomfortable political question. Excerpts from an interview:

Do you see yourself as a very political person? And what does that `political' mean?

I am not political in the sense of being connected in anyway to politics or a political party. That I will never be. But yes I am political in the sense of being a citizen with social responsibilities, being the citizen of a larger world. I cannot live in an ivory tower. I have social concerns. But I know I cannot work on the ground like so many others do. I only have great admiration for them. But I have a compete obsession for music. I love my music. It is where I find my fulfilment. But I have come to realise that if you are concerned, your music will reflect that concern. Your belief will come through. Years of research into music has convinced me of that. If you are also asking me whether I have a larger picture of the world, other than the arts, other than music, I do.

You perform on human rights forums. This is in some ways explicitly political, something mainstream musicians don't do. Have you ever carried the apprehension that such identification may dilute the "aura" of the classical musician?

Why should it? I have great respect for work done by human rights forums. I believe in their work. Therefore I try to present pictures that match their work. We have celebrities performing for tsunami to get paid... And here we actually believe in what we do and yet we are asked whether this is dilution of our effort, our work. If I didn't believe in this, I wouldn't be doing this... Where is the question of dilution?

You also pick compositions that are strongly political...

Why not? It's not as though music doesn't come with political messages. Music has always had messages and has always been used for messages. Let alone popular music, even traditional, classical music has been like that. Rathan Shankar's compositions, for instance, are nationalist, yet classical. Why can't music be both an aesthetic and political arrangement?

But how radical can one get with music?

That really depends on the person performing. It depends on how the person is writing, composing, producing and presenting the music. Fundamentally it is about belief and outlook to life. What choice you make depends on your inclination.

Would a musician largely be humanist? Would Sufi compositions, for instance, be largely humanist? What are the limits there?

It's just that there are different ways of looking at the world. There should be room to say things in different ways. Humanist or otherwise, Sufi compositions are wonderful and inspiring. It's the way the compositions reflect and describe a situation.

You had some rather strong views on music and music talent contests in your recent write-up in Tehelka. What was it that was upsetting?

I don't have a problem with music talent contests, but using classical terms out of context is not right. What does gurukul mean? A gurukul is not a place where children tell teachers that they don't know how to teach. Can you ever imagine a student saying that to a guru? That's how the TV programme came across. Yes, teachers make mistakes but there are others ways of expressing differences of opinion. What do 16-year-olds, 18-year-olds or 20-year-olds know about gurukuls? I objected to the use of the word gurukul in the wrong context. I also objected to the use of the word fame. You earn gyan, not fame, in a gurukul. Only with gyan comes fame. Gurukul is not a mall where you can buy fame. Have talent contests, but don't give the wrong impression to children.

You must have come across much criticism for your style and outlook to music.

There are many who like my work, there are many who don't. Frankly, when you meet audiences that appreciate you, it is a morale booster. But if they didn't, I would take it that I am not perfect, that my work comes with imperfections. I would ask myself where I should improve. I don't think I am fantastic. I come with flaws. But I like my kind of music because I get to explore different styles. There is so much to learn from each. But this doesn't mean I can do everything. For instance, I have limitations when it comes to playback and I know I cannot do Western music at all. But I have a curiosity about everything connected to music. The moment you think there is nothing to learn, you are finished.

What about criticism from the classical world in particular?

There's never been criticism in the open. No one has ever come and told me that I am not good. No one can say it actually. Great ustads in the past have performed in the film world. Isn't that popular music? So, how can they say I am not good? But this doesn't mean I am fantastic. I come with my imperfections.

How did you get the larger picture of the world, the picture outside music?

I am very grateful to my parents who were interested in social work. They were very involved in the world around them other than just the arts. The family trait naturally rubbed off on me. My husband's family too has been of great support. I am very thankful.

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