Here I am in a mood to write something about my beloved Indian Classical Music! Needless to stress here that I am listening to it, while I write this....as that is the thing I have been doing regularly, along with my sleep and food, for the past eleven years! But suddenly, while listening to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi's raag basant bahar, I was moved back eleven years...the time when there was a huge transition in me! I was in my eighth standard of school. I clearly remember singing songs of films like Josh in my first semester before Diwali vacations. The song 'Apun Bola tu meri laila. woh boli phekta hain saala' was famous that time. I wonder, nine years later, whether such creations can be even categorized as songs! But after Diwali vacation ended, and the new semester started...I started to sing classical 'bandishs', natyageets, thumris, instrumental dhuns...with a simultaneous 'taal' rhythm on the bench! But what happened between those days? What made this transition possible? How, a person...within a single vacation of 25 days....could change his outlook towards music? Well, yes! There was a moment...a moment which defined my future music taste! A moment, which I am glad to admit, is making me feel relieved that it came to me! Because, had it not been for me....I would not have experienced the ultimate joy that I can experience now. But before that I would like to throw some light on my life, before this moment!
My maternal uncle has a great love for Indian Classical Music. That is because his maternal grandfather....i.e my great maternal grandfather had the same type of craze! He used to live at Girgaon, where I was told a young 15-16 year old Kumar gandharva used to give concerts! I remember my maternal grandmother telling me that Kumar, dressed in a half pant and half sleeve shirt, would give concerts for hours! So, this is how, due to a rich musical environment, my mother got a taste of Indian Classical Music, from her childhood. My mother, though, not a hardcore classical music lover, has a very good understanding of music. She knows how much of a joy can you experience through music. She is a very good singer, though she does not sing in public. But had she sung, she would have drawn a good fan following! I remember, in my childhood, she used to call me and insist, 'aashu, chal tula gaana shikavte' ( aashay, I will teach you a song)....only in resulting me running away from the place! How I regret those moments! Had I learned that time, I would not have the biggest regret of my life, of me not able to sing! But to be frank, I would enjoy some hindi and marathi songs played around me. But yet, I had not listened to something, giving me an absolute joy. A joy, that I could relish every clock-ticking moment of my life! A feeling that I could relate with every passing moment around me. That music was yet awaiting me. In such circumstances, my mother asked me whether I would like to learn singing, or learn any instrument of the Tabla or the Harmonium. That was in the third standard. I admit, at that time I was mostly a shy person. So, vocals was out of question! I chose the harmonium, and with that choice, I was asked to go to Shri Vinayak Samant, a harmonium teacher living right opposite our apartment! I still remember that first day of class.... I was asked by him to count the beats of the 'teentaal rhythm'...the rhythmic cycle was being played on a machine. ( There are 16 beats in this taal)...My answer ranged from 18 to 25...! Such a poor chap I was in music! But with that day, I started to learn harmonium under him. Those were the days of extreme unwillingness to learn that instrument. I seriously had no interest in harmonium, no interest in Indian Classical Music....I just wanted to go and play cricket outside! But still, I started to learn something....till the eighth standard. Meanwhile, I passed three exams in Harmonium, the first one with a first class and the rest two with a distinction. And my harmonium playing improved somewhat, I must admit. But as far as music is concerned, I was a person with a confused state! I used to bring cassettes of film- songs, only to keep them unlistened. Because, after listening to maybe 1-2 times, I would loose interest in them.
I remember, my maternal uncle had a cassette series titled '50 glorious years of Indian Classical Music'...which had recordings, from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan to Ustad Zakir Hussain. He used to frequently play those recordings when I used to visit his place. I remember, one such night, when he was playing a record of Pt. Kumar Gandharva, from that series. The bandish was "rajan, ab toh aa ja re". from raag nand. Mama introduced me to the singer...."he Kumar Gandharva ahet". I was not knowing, that I am listening to a singer, who I would be idolizing in the next few years time. I responded him with an uninterested nod. But I would say, that recording made a slight impact on me. Though I was not interested, I could make out that those sur (musical notes) had something to say. They had a language, which could make a communication with any soul, that was non-prejudiced towards them. They had a flamboyance, a majestic touch, a confident appeal, and yet a tenderness within them! This I guess was a start, a stimulation, towards me getting an interest in Indian Classical Music. But the biggest moment was yet to come! In those years, i.e in my seventh and start of eight standard....I attended some of the small music concerts in Panvel. Those were the one organized by Panvel Cultural Centre. So poor was I in ICM those days, that I remember in one such concerts, my cousin shantanu telling me 'hi Bhairavi ahe, hi concert chya end madhye gaatat" ( this is raag bhairavi, this is sung at the end of the concert)! Some concerts were like, I used to run away in between, ensuring that my maternal uncle would not see me leaving. It feels so much ironical, that a person, so much in love with music,would run from concerts in those days.
But then what are moments for? Even the great Sachin Tendulkar decided to get the cricket bat in his hand, when he saw the Indian cricket team lifting the world cup 1983. That was the moment for him....the moment which defined his attitude towards life...towards cricket. He himself admits that this was what made him play cricket...and the Sachin what we see today is all because of this. And a similar moment came in my life too.....that was in perhaps november-december. As I said, the recording of Kumar ji, made some inroads into my life. Those inroads were to such an extent, that I brought that cassette at my place to listen to. I was not sure, why I was doing this. It was not as if this recording had changed my life. I still listened to film-songs like my friends did....still talked about movies....but this recording had occupied an iota of space in my mind. This was unknowingly true! But at home, my mom was listening to that cassette more than me. But one night, when I was going to my mom's room to say her good-night, she was listening to that cassette. And as I was standing there...yeah...I still remember....the small black tape-recorder, atop the black 3-drawer small cupboard....was rendering a recording. The recording was 'jaoon mein tope balihari'. Fiery taans marked the recording, with also rendering of some very fierce, but sweet alaaps. The recording was too catchy to avoid. In my harmonium classes, I learned how to play the taans....which is the fast tempo rendering of the musical notes. As it requires some very skillful use of the fingers while playing the harmonium, it requires an amazing breath control, while singing. But here, in this recording....the artist seemed not to stop in his taans. They were just too lengthy to believe! I was tempted to ask my mom ' Kon ahe ha artist?' My mom immediately replied "Bhimsen Joshi."
Next morning was a day like everyday....school! One girl was reading some paper in the value education lecture. I was expected to pay attention to what was being read. But while trying to pay attention, I suddenly remembered the recording I listened last night. I could hear that recording within me...I could hear those taans....I could hear those words....and most importantly I could hear that VOICE. I could do nothing but to start humming the tune.This continued almost throughout the lecture. After some 2-3 lectures, here that voice was again to haunt me. Again I found myself humming that dhun, with that voice in my mind. I was not able to understand why I am remembering that recording again and again. I understood that there is something inside me that is compelling me to go home and listen to the recording again and again. Yeah, and that was true, as the first thing I did after going home and taking lunch, was that I listened to the recording. After lunch, was the time to go for classes....but again before leaving home, I made it a point to listen to that recording. It was a funny experience for a person who was phobic to Indian Classical Music over these days. But then this was the moment which defined my entire attitude towards music. The man who induced this feeling in me was PT. BHIMSEN JOSHI.
I remembered the independence day celebrations of 1997. The maestro was singing 'Vande Mataram' in the Indian Parliament. This was around 11.30 pm in the night of 14th august. I remember asking my mother, 'ha kon therda gaatoy'..( who is this mad old man singing?) I remembered liking the Vande mataram version of A.R Rahman over this piece. However, I still like rahman's version, but I more closely follow Panditji's version.
Over the years, my taste and hunger for Indian Classical Music started to grow....and it has reached a point, where, my life without it is impossible. I owe a lot to these great maestros, who have continued to influence me all these years, and helped me achieve a rich taste of the great music of ours!
My maternal uncle has a great love for Indian Classical Music. That is because his maternal grandfather....i.e my great maternal grandfather had the same type of craze! He used to live at Girgaon, where I was told a young 15-16 year old Kumar gandharva used to give concerts! I remember my maternal grandmother telling me that Kumar, dressed in a half pant and half sleeve shirt, would give concerts for hours! So, this is how, due to a rich musical environment, my mother got a taste of Indian Classical Music, from her childhood. My mother, though, not a hardcore classical music lover, has a very good understanding of music. She knows how much of a joy can you experience through music. She is a very good singer, though she does not sing in public. But had she sung, she would have drawn a good fan following! I remember, in my childhood, she used to call me and insist, 'aashu, chal tula gaana shikavte' ( aashay, I will teach you a song)....only in resulting me running away from the place! How I regret those moments! Had I learned that time, I would not have the biggest regret of my life, of me not able to sing! But to be frank, I would enjoy some hindi and marathi songs played around me. But yet, I had not listened to something, giving me an absolute joy. A joy, that I could relish every clock-ticking moment of my life! A feeling that I could relate with every passing moment around me. That music was yet awaiting me. In such circumstances, my mother asked me whether I would like to learn singing, or learn any instrument of the Tabla or the Harmonium. That was in the third standard. I admit, at that time I was mostly a shy person. So, vocals was out of question! I chose the harmonium, and with that choice, I was asked to go to Shri Vinayak Samant, a harmonium teacher living right opposite our apartment! I still remember that first day of class.... I was asked by him to count the beats of the 'teentaal rhythm'...the rhythmic cycle was being played on a machine. ( There are 16 beats in this taal)...My answer ranged from 18 to 25...! Such a poor chap I was in music! But with that day, I started to learn harmonium under him. Those were the days of extreme unwillingness to learn that instrument. I seriously had no interest in harmonium, no interest in Indian Classical Music....I just wanted to go and play cricket outside! But still, I started to learn something....till the eighth standard. Meanwhile, I passed three exams in Harmonium, the first one with a first class and the rest two with a distinction. And my harmonium playing improved somewhat, I must admit. But as far as music is concerned, I was a person with a confused state! I used to bring cassettes of film- songs, only to keep them unlistened. Because, after listening to maybe 1-2 times, I would loose interest in them.
I remember, my maternal uncle had a cassette series titled '50 glorious years of Indian Classical Music'...which had recordings, from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan to Ustad Zakir Hussain. He used to frequently play those recordings when I used to visit his place. I remember, one such night, when he was playing a record of Pt. Kumar Gandharva, from that series. The bandish was "rajan, ab toh aa ja re". from raag nand. Mama introduced me to the singer...."he Kumar Gandharva ahet". I was not knowing, that I am listening to a singer, who I would be idolizing in the next few years time. I responded him with an uninterested nod. But I would say, that recording made a slight impact on me. Though I was not interested, I could make out that those sur (musical notes) had something to say. They had a language, which could make a communication with any soul, that was non-prejudiced towards them. They had a flamboyance, a majestic touch, a confident appeal, and yet a tenderness within them! This I guess was a start, a stimulation, towards me getting an interest in Indian Classical Music. But the biggest moment was yet to come! In those years, i.e in my seventh and start of eight standard....I attended some of the small music concerts in Panvel. Those were the one organized by Panvel Cultural Centre. So poor was I in ICM those days, that I remember in one such concerts, my cousin shantanu telling me 'hi Bhairavi ahe, hi concert chya end madhye gaatat" ( this is raag bhairavi, this is sung at the end of the concert)! Some concerts were like, I used to run away in between, ensuring that my maternal uncle would not see me leaving. It feels so much ironical, that a person, so much in love with music,would run from concerts in those days.
But then what are moments for? Even the great Sachin Tendulkar decided to get the cricket bat in his hand, when he saw the Indian cricket team lifting the world cup 1983. That was the moment for him....the moment which defined his attitude towards life...towards cricket. He himself admits that this was what made him play cricket...and the Sachin what we see today is all because of this. And a similar moment came in my life too.....that was in perhaps november-december. As I said, the recording of Kumar ji, made some inroads into my life. Those inroads were to such an extent, that I brought that cassette at my place to listen to. I was not sure, why I was doing this. It was not as if this recording had changed my life. I still listened to film-songs like my friends did....still talked about movies....but this recording had occupied an iota of space in my mind. This was unknowingly true! But at home, my mom was listening to that cassette more than me. But one night, when I was going to my mom's room to say her good-night, she was listening to that cassette. And as I was standing there...yeah...I still remember....the small black tape-recorder, atop the black 3-drawer small cupboard....was rendering a recording. The recording was 'jaoon mein tope balihari'. Fiery taans marked the recording, with also rendering of some very fierce, but sweet alaaps. The recording was too catchy to avoid. In my harmonium classes, I learned how to play the taans....which is the fast tempo rendering of the musical notes. As it requires some very skillful use of the fingers while playing the harmonium, it requires an amazing breath control, while singing. But here, in this recording....the artist seemed not to stop in his taans. They were just too lengthy to believe! I was tempted to ask my mom ' Kon ahe ha artist?' My mom immediately replied "Bhimsen Joshi."
Next morning was a day like everyday....school! One girl was reading some paper in the value education lecture. I was expected to pay attention to what was being read. But while trying to pay attention, I suddenly remembered the recording I listened last night. I could hear that recording within me...I could hear those taans....I could hear those words....and most importantly I could hear that VOICE. I could do nothing but to start humming the tune.This continued almost throughout the lecture. After some 2-3 lectures, here that voice was again to haunt me. Again I found myself humming that dhun, with that voice in my mind. I was not able to understand why I am remembering that recording again and again. I understood that there is something inside me that is compelling me to go home and listen to the recording again and again. Yeah, and that was true, as the first thing I did after going home and taking lunch, was that I listened to the recording. After lunch, was the time to go for classes....but again before leaving home, I made it a point to listen to that recording. It was a funny experience for a person who was phobic to Indian Classical Music over these days. But then this was the moment which defined my entire attitude towards music. The man who induced this feeling in me was PT. BHIMSEN JOSHI.
I remembered the independence day celebrations of 1997. The maestro was singing 'Vande Mataram' in the Indian Parliament. This was around 11.30 pm in the night of 14th august. I remember asking my mother, 'ha kon therda gaatoy'..( who is this mad old man singing?) I remembered liking the Vande mataram version of A.R Rahman over this piece. However, I still like rahman's version, but I more closely follow Panditji's version.
Over the years, my taste and hunger for Indian Classical Music started to grow....and it has reached a point, where, my life without it is impossible. I owe a lot to these great maestros, who have continued to influence me all these years, and helped me achieve a rich taste of the great music of ours!
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