'I Still Get Free Auto Rides'
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LOUNGE CULTURE L17 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011 ° WWW.LIVEMINT.COM MUSIC MUSIC MATTERS Studio effects SHUBHA MUDGAL A LIFE IN MUSIC oing by the number of invitations to book launches that Gone receives these days, it would seem that every other Indian has taken to authoring books, publishing and launching them in style. Despite all this prolific literary activity, it does seem a pity that the stylish launches, the invitation cards, the newsletters and the publicity are largely reserved only for books written in English, and not for writing in Hindi and other Indian languages. What a pity then that some wonderful writing never gets due attention or, at best, is noticed only in Surround sound: The some circles. Add to this the problem of sourcing and buying Coke Studio set; and books in Hindi. It requires a fair amount of dedicated (below) Leslie Lewis, investigation to discover where one can buy books written in the show's music languages other than English, or even if they can be ordered director. online. Books on music are even more difficult to come by and perhaps that is why I missed out on acquiring a copy of Sharad Dutt's extensively researched and brilliant biographical work built on a scale that begins to on the life and music of veteran music director Anil Biswas, `Coke Studio@MTV' approximate film music's mam- titled Ritu Aaye Ritu Jaaye. wants to recreate moth reach. Fortunately for me, some well-meaning spammer forwarded an ªI think this might widen announcement about the book on email a while back and I was an India united by MTV's target group like nothing able to buy a copy. This is the second edition of the book, music, but can it else has,º Swamy says. ªWe're not released after the demise of Biswas on 31 May 2003. Dutt, an thinking 15-25 (years) here, it's acclaimed figure in the world of media and broadcasting, shared a boost the indepen- probably 15-75.º He says the close association with Biswas, whom he first met when the author dent music scene? channel is ªnot looking at num- joined Doordarshan and was allotted a room adjoining that of the bersº for the show's audience. composer. Biswas was, at the time, director of the national In India, where Shafqat orchestra at Akashvani. But greatly in awe of the renowned music Amanat Ali is perhaps best director, Dutt struck a rapport with Biswas only in 1976, during known for singing film hits such the making of a Doordarshan programme on singer Mukesh, who as Mitwa (from 2006's Kabhi Alv- died in August 1976. Over the years the two grew close, and Dutt ida Naa Kehna), the show will often urged Biswas (whose literary bent of mind manifested itself bring an Indian audience closer in the writing of song lyrics and poems in Bengali) to pen his B Y S UPRIYA N AIR Da sings with Shankar movies. But Coke Studio@MTV to the performer who, on Pakis- autobiography. Biswas COURTESY SAARANSH PUBLICATIONS [email protected] Mahadevan. Classical singer Bom- chooses not to draw a line tan's Coke Studio, reworked the turned the tables on Dutt ´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´ bay Jayashri jams with Chinna between itself and an industry enchanting Hindustani ªlight by declaring that if at all his hen the heat rises across Ponnu, perhaps best known out- often accused of crushing the life classicalº sound of Khamaaj and life was to be documented, the subcontinent, a large side Tamil Nadu for the folk out of the independent artistes it Aankhon Kay Saagar, his early it was not for him to do so Wpart of its population, anthem Nakku Mukka. chooses not to swallow whole. hits with his band Fuzon. It will himself, and that he across borders, greets the new sea- ªWe want the Kashmir-to-Kan- Leslie Lewis, the show's musical lay down classic blues guitar considered Dutt a suitable son of Coke Studio with the rap- yakumari experience for listeners,º director, is keenly aware of this. lines behind Mahadevan and candidate for the job! Thus ture usually reserved for thunder- Swamy says. ªWhen `Indipop' began in the Khogen Da's voices, and have began an extended series of clouds in late summer. Since 2008, Pakistan's Coke Studio rein- 1990s, it took seven or eight years the folksy Kher improvising as discussions and chat this Pakistani television show has vented the pop-folk crossover. As to pick up. The Yaaron Dosti (his per Lewis' jazz sensibilities. sessions where Biswas brought together classical, folk and teen pop icons sang the poetry of song, with KK, recorded for indie Seen one way, it could be an shared his memories with pop musicians to create new Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah, and film Rockford) phase was one enormous project of reconcilia- Dutt, who captured them sounds out of Pakistan's old and Strings re-recorded their monster- thing. Colonial Cousins (his project tionÐto bring the Sunidhi Chau- on tape. The sessions diverse traditions, and acquired a hit Duur accompanied by the clas- with Hariharan) was totally differ- han fans to the Wadali brothers, resulted in approximately formidable army of Indian and sical stylings of Ustad Hussain ent; by this time people were say- and Wadali enthusiasts to Chau- 60 memory-packed hours of expatriate fans around the world. Baksh Gullo, it seemed like a ing they had heard music before, han, and bring both these audi- recorded material, which Some of its extraordinary appeal wholly new musical idiom was but never like this.º ences to music in ªKannada, provided Dutt with the could be gleaned, perhaps, in the emerging; slick and easy on the But Lewis' success apart, that Marathi, Gujarati, TamilÐa host ingredients that went into joy with which MTV began record- ear, but without the limitations of a scene began to repeat some of Bol- of languagesº, as Swamy says. For the making of Ritu Aaye ing the Indian edition of the show shallow remix. lywood's own mistakesÐprizing a generation of listeners who may Ritu Jaaye. On a good note: Anil Biswas. in April. As producers and execu- In a country where recorded saleability over talent, creating a not remember Mile sur mera What draws me to the tives greeted each other, the music was failing to keep up with landslide (in the closing years of tumhaara, MTV is looking to rec- book is that despite the author's obvious and abundant refrain, ªWe did it!º, echoed piracy and the concert scene the 1990s) of poor products. Bolly- reate the idea of an India con- admiration and deep respect for Biswas, he does not turn him around the sets. increasingly threatened by secu- wood eventually overwhelmed a nected by its music. into a mythical figure with wings, or a demi-god, as often ªWe've been thinking about this rity concerns, a TV show that was fledgling recording industry of ªEveryone's always asking, happens in books on Indian musicians. We meet Anil Biswas, the for years,º says Aditya Swamy, all music and offered, moreover, non-film music. what's new? What's next? What else human, albeit an extraordinary one whose enormous channel head, MTV India. Months free downloads of every song and In collaborating with the show's after Bollywood?º Lewis says. ªSo, contribution to the world of Hindi film music commands of scouting for performers across episode on the Internet, became other artistes, and performing you know, here you go. This is a reverence and immense admiration. An added bonus that Dutt India, of a gruelling schedule of a phenomenon. himself (he and Hariharan will great starting point for what's next.º gifts to his readers is comprehensive and easy-to-refer-to lists of collaboration and practice, of days In India, the behemoth of Bol- have a Colonial Cousins set), Lewis his work as a music director and composer, the singers he and nights of recording have now lywood music already offers a has lost months of sleep, but found Coke Studio@MTV will air on worked with, Biswas' Bengali adaptations of his favourite Urdu come together. platform, warts and all, for the a whole new groove. MTV starting 17 June, every Friday poetry from the works of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, Mir Taqi Mir and On Coke Studio's signature crossover sound. Vocalists such Independent music is increas- at 7pm. For details, follow others, and even translations of articles written by Biswas black and red set, with no interrup- as Kailash Kher and Kavita Seth, ingly popular, finding new venues www.fb.me/cokestudioatmtv originally in Bengali, on themes such as the ghazal, orchestral tions from anchors, judges or audi- for example, are already well and audiences in English and music and music for ballets. Thank you, Mr Dutt, for sharing ence, Sunidhi Chauhan records known for bringing their Sufi-in- Hindi as well as, in a limited way, with us the world of Anil Biswas. with the stalwart Wadali brothers. spired music to the increasingly in other languages. But Coke Stu- Assamese folk superstar Khogen diverse soundtracks of Hindi dio@MTV may be the first product Write to Shubha at [email protected] Q&A | RAGHU DIXIT JEREMY LLEWELLYN JONES That show went out to bribes at government offices millions of people. When it because people recognize me. `I still get free auto rides' aired, I was sitting here in In 2009, I did another movie India, in the middle of the night, called Just Maat Maathalli.