Since the name of the blog is Music in Mumbai, i will write something about it- how I see it. I am interested in Classical Hindustani music which has a huge following in this city. Huge in numbers, but you would never know it from the space given in the newspapers- nothing at all really! People interested, musicians, listeners and students are involved in their own circles for the most part with very few opportunities to interact. Concerts occasionally offer a point of meeting, but attendance, even sometimes with big name artists is decreasing by the day. I understand that. I often think why should I bother to go when getting anywhere in this city can mean nasty traffic messes, the music might not be great, and I can listen to some great music at home. Concerts too have to now compete with cable tv, IPL and dvds too! The yearly SRA seminar at NCPA attracts the cream of musicians and offers some interesting discussions. We must all thank Sri Arvind Parekh who with power, dignity and intelligence guides this and other projects. There are great concerts taking place all the time and I regret missing so many of them. Some artists I make an effort to go to hear- Kishori Amonkar, Ulhas Kashalkar, Jayshree Patnekar, Vijaya Jadhav-Ghatliwar, Manjusha Kulkarni Patil, and Aslam Hussain Khan. These are my favorites but I like many more. I have always been surprised that there is almost no interaction with the Carnatic music people in Mumbai, despite the thriving concert scene mostly in the Chembur, Sion area. I haven’t met any Hindustani musician who has any interest in it! Although I try to attend concerts in Chennai when I am there and am never disappointed, here somehow I am removed from Carnatic music. In Hindustani music the star system prevail- the usual catch22- if you don’t have a star you do not attract the public. Many good singers just do not get programs. There are various reasons for this and everyone has his or her favorites who are ignored. I think one of the main reasons for popularity in Mumbai (or Pune) over and above technical excellence and a pleasing voice is the emotional content. The audience here is knowledgeable about music and provides a generalised filter. Gwalior and Rampur singers have maybe suffered the most. Cold, dry singing just does not make it! Batuk Deewanji remembers Mustaq Hussein Khan being booed off the stage at a University convocation hall program in the 50’s or 60’s. This was also the reputation of legends like Krishnarao Shankar Pandit, Sharadchandra Arolkar, Nisar Hussein Khan, Vilayet Hussain Khan, Ratnakar Pai, Dondutai Kulkarni and Ram Narayan. There are many more. Like most people, I want to leave the concert having felt something! Despite the dwindling numbers at the concerts the organizers do a great job here especially the Vyas brothers, Banyan Tree, Dadar-Matunga cultural centre and Karnatak Sangh.
