Indian Classical music always has an old-world charm to it. While that charm is beautiful in its own way, artistes like Hindustani Classical and fusion music exponent and tabla player Bickram Ghosh are changing all that and giving Indian Classical music a modern touch. One of the forums largely used by them to promote this traditional genre is music label Saregama India and its smartphone application – Saregama Classical App. But they haven’t stopped with that. Saregama has now launched Classical Studio on the app where you don’t just get to hear legends of Indian Classical music play, but also watch them perform on videos.
Shot against the backdrop of India’s historical monuments and in the studio, the videos are a trip down memory lane outlining the country’s iconic soundscape while featuring artistes from Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Ajay Prasanna to Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Bickram Ghosh among others.
The unique video series promises to be an additional bonus to the application which houses one of the largest collections of Hindustani, Carnatic and fusion music. Artiste Bickram Ghosh catches up with MetroPlus with the details.
These videos are short duration clips, Bickram explains. “I’ve done seven pieces of tabla solos alone out of around nine videos. If you know Indian Classical music, a tabla solo usually lasts around 45 minutes to an hour of performance. So what makes this series interesting is a three-and-a-half minute tabla solo is something which I don’t think has been heard in years. Why I say years is because in the 30s and 40s, the vinyl records in the earliest days, used to be three-and-a-half minutes each. Technology did not allow more than that at that time.”
From then to now, you’ve not had Classical renditions in this short span, he adds. “What it basically means is that life has become so fast, you don’t watch a five-day cricket match anymore. You’d watch a T20. Similarly, Classical music has to adjust to changing times. It’s a very smart move that Saregama has done. It’s not a challenge on the lifestyle and people can incorporate them into daily life just like any other song, which is pretty cool. It’s a great idea!”
One of the most important end results of the videos is that it will make Classical music a lot more accessible, Bickram affirms. “That, I think, is the most innovative part of this project. And they are really good videos. Each of them has been shot with a classy touch at good locations. Even the ones in the studio look fantastic. That basically means the artistes get a lot more mileage. This format will make huge inroads into the new generation.”
The maestro elaborates that there are a lot of youngsters listening to Classical music now. “They love it. On some level, I think people are a little tired of being dished out the same kind of material from Bollywood and other forums. There is a hunger for Classical music which is making a comeback to the forefront.”
And avenues like Saregama are helping push that art form. “They have a huge repertoire. I, myself, am a second generation artiste. My father recorded with them from the 50s. And I’ve been recording for a good 20 years now. If they can smartly reach it to people, it will go a long way in promoting Classical music.”
On his own experience on the project, the artiste says: “I have always pushed the line in my own work. From the Classical genre to fusion – it was radical at the time I started. For me, it was not a challenge at all. Some people may find it a challenge to fit everything into three-and-a-half minutes. But, I see this as an opportunity to imbibe Classical music into the DNA of the younger generation.”
Bickram points out that the focus of his work and his agenda for the videos is for people to realise that Indian Classical music is cool. “It’s as simple as that. I make it a point not to give a minute of boredom in my concert. It’s all there in the music. It’s just that we have to re-edit it and change the format a bit. I want people to be blown away be these videos. Artistes should also understand that people are not moving away but rather towards Classical music and align themselves accordingly.”
Catch all your favourite artistes on the application in both audio and video formats.
