Brahma Gana Sabha will be celebrating ‘138 years of glorious service for the sake of music’ of Padma Bhushan awardeee, Sangeetha Kalanidhi and Kalaimamani Trichur V. Ramachandran (61 years in the field of music), Kalaimamani and Sangeetha Kala Sagaram Charumathi Ramachandran (52 years) and Yuva Kala Bharathi Shubashree Ramachandran (25 years) in the city on December 1.
The family of musicians tells DC about the changing face of Carnatic music in this fast-paced, hi-tech world.
Q: What change do you see in today rasika’s expectations?
Charumathi: Rasikas now tend to appreciate fusion and jugalbandi concerts. They also follow artistes who are featured more in the media.
Q: How much has the tradition of Carnatic music changed?
Charumathi: Tradition remains quite stable. But paucity of time for concerts has played havoc with manodharmam or improvisation aspects like singing ragam, neraval, thanam and pallavi at leisure.
Q: What’s missing in Carnatic music today?
Ramachandran: Simplicity among artistes, reverence for older generation artistes and attendance by young artistes for seniors’ concerts or even their own peers. A self-centred culture seems to be prevailing now. There is no bonhomie but only searing rivalry at every turn. Bhakti is also given short shrift.
Q:The young and upcoming seemed to be more professional in their approach. What do you think about it?
Ramachandran: We were also professionals. Now youngsters are forced to be commercial by market forces. Everyone travels by air now. When we were young we made countless journeys on ordinary sleeper class trains for the sake of music. We put up with lots of hardships for our gurus.
Q: What is your take on fusion or jugalbandi?
Charumathi: It is for the ultra modern audience who are bored of classical seriousness. Cosmopolitan audiences prefer fusion concerts for their jazzy feeling and free improvisation.
Q: How do youngsters respond to music now?
Charumathi: Students like music – if they are learning it.
Q: How challenging is it for a woman musician today?
Shubashree: More challenging as it is a male dominated society.
Q: Do you see any discrimination against women in this field?
Shubashree: Not much. But more top accompanists should play for women.
Q: Is it necessary to present new ragas to keep Carnatic music alive?
Shubashree: Yes. There are lakhs of ragas that need to be explored.
Q: What more do you like to do in the field of Carnatic music?
Shubashree: I would like to learn more and more traditional compositions of great masters and explore new and challenging pallavis. Would love to do more on bridging Hindustani and Carnatic music, voice culture and take the best of both as I am trained in both styles.
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