As the train chugged along, a sweet tune played on an uncanny instrument alerted Vandana (Sharmila Tagore) in the train, to Arun (Rajesh Khanna) driving a car alongside, singing what would become one of Hindi cinema’s most popular romantic numbers. The year was 1969, the film was Aradhana , the song was Mere Sapnon Ki Rani and the uncanny instrument was the harmonica (mouth organ).
It became impossible to sing Mere Sapnon Ki Rani thereafter without humming the harmonica interlude too. Even in terms of picturisation, how can one imagine the song without Sujit Kumar playing the jolly harmonica and steering the car sitting next to Rajesh Khanna?
Most music lovers often remember the harmonica in India through its use in film music, especially in songs like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (CID) and Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat (Teen Deviyan) and so on.
But did the harmonica only belong to film music? Was it not performed in other genres in India? Where is the harmonica today?
The answers to some of these questions are with The Bangalore Harmonica Club, who for the last three years has been trying to put the spotlight firmly back on the harmonica and other reed instruments. Set up in 2008, the group, apart from being a space where harmonica players can network and learn from each other, has been hosting yearly festivals that are day-long events focussed on acquainting audiences with the potential and beauty of reed instruments. Back with its third edition this weekend, the group will host ‘The Bangalore Harmonica and Reed Instrument Festival, 2015 on November 22 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore.
“We feel that like the harmonica, other reed instruments like the accordion, for instance, have gradually exited the concert stage and even the film studios. One of the reasons for this could be the fact that digitally produced music can now produce the sounds that reed instruments produced originally. But we feel that nobody can replace or recreate the art of playing these reed instruments. So, through this festival, we try to popularise the harmonica and since last year we have included other reed instruments such as saxophone, accordion and melodica as well. All of them are facing a kind of oblivion today,” says Debashis Dutta, Secretary, The Bangalore Harmonica Club.
What makes the group as well as the festival unique is the fact that it comprises a diverse set of artists who will all play the reed instruments in different musical genres. So the harmonica will be showcased in film, Carnatic music, the Blues as well as in Kannada folk and patriotic songs, this year. “While the harmonica owes its popularity to film, it is also unfortunately slotted as just that kind of an instrument- an old Bollywood music instrument. But what most people forget is that the harmonica as a musical instrument has the potential to do so much more. All we need to do is take it out of its comfort zone and its pre-conceived notions,” says Vasudev Prabhu, who will perform the harmonica in a Blues concert as part of the festival.
The group staged their first music festival in 2013. They added some more reed instruments to the festival in 2014 and this year, they have made the list even more inclusive with the melodica as well.
“The idea is to get all sections of the society interested in these instruments. The festival is a tribute to the instruments. We are also planning to give information about the instruments, the brand, make, scale etc. along with the performances this year,” says Saitejas Chandrashekar, who is known for his harmonica performances in the Carnatic music genre.
Groups such as these are a boon for reed instrument artists because India does not have sufficient teachers or a formal learning structure for these instruments, say artists. “India’s position on the harmonica map globally is not great. One of the reasons for this is the lack of teachers of this instrument. Ask any harmonica player in India and 95 per cent of them will tell you that they are self-taught. And for most artists, their tryst with the instrument would have been an accidental one,” says Vasudev recounting his own story.
The story is not so different for Saitejas either. “I picked up the instrument as a child from a street-side shop in Goa for Rs.25. Since I was learning Carnatic music, I could play some simple tunes. It was only later when I was gifted the chromatic harmonica that I learnt how to play it properly,” recounts Saitejas.
What Vasudev, Saitejas and Debashis feel is that there should be a proper course structure for the harmonica like there is in the case of other instruments, like the Guitar for example. Debashish argues that in addition to education, what the harmonica also needs is a manufacturing unit in India. “The instrument has become very expensive to buy since we do not have an Indian manufacturer. Other reed instruments like the accordion too suffer from the same issue,” he says.
What has the response to the past two festivals been like? “Interest in harmonica and other reed instruments is definitely growing. Apart from this, we also conduct workshops for children who then popularise the instrument in their own homes. This year, Hamsanada, India’s first children’s harmonica ensemble, will perform to the theme, ‘Kannada Namana’. The ensemble too has grown since last year,” says Saitejas.
“My dream is to ensure that there is a harmonica player in every house. It is an instrument that is close to everyone’s heart. It is just a matter of recognising one’s love for it,” he adds.
Schedule of the festival
10 a.m.: Inauguration and Book release of a book on harmonica notations co-authored by Avinash Kulkarni and Saitejas Chandrashekhar
11 a.m.: Kannada Namana by Hamsanada, children’s harmonica ensemble
11.40 a.m.:Group 1 with film songs from the 1950s
12.40 p.m.: Accordion by ‘Tremulos’, a band led by M.B. Prakash
1.45 p.m.: Group 2 with film songs from the 1960s
2.25 p.m.: S.J.Prasanna will perform on multiple reed instruments
2.45 p.m.: Group 3 with film songs on 1970 to 1974
4.05 p.m.: Melodica by Ralph Maria
4.25 p.m.: Group 4 with film songs from 1975 to 1979
5.10 p.m.: Shubham Harnal (Blues) with Vasudev Prabhu and Band
5.55 p.m.: Group 5 with film music from 1980 to 1999
6.40 p.m.: Carnatic classical on the harmonica by Saitejas Chandrashekhar
7 p.m.: Group 6 with film music from 2000 onwards
Children’s Harmonica ensemble will conclude the evening with a Kishore Kumar tribute.Box 2
Indian Harmonica Day
The country is also home to other similar groups like Harmonica India and Indian Mouth Organ Players Group which have helped artists interact and network with each other. “These are forums where artists can post recordings, make corrections, exchange thoughts and enquire about purchase of instruments. Two years ago in Calcutta, the first Indian Mouth Organs Players’ Meet was organised where 90-100 delegates met. There, they decided to observe November 22 as the Indian Harmonica Day because it is the birth anniversary of a legendary harmonica virtuoso called Milan Gupta, who is known for his work in a lot of films,” explains Saitejas Chandrashekhar.
