MUSIC
Of purists and
passionates
We talk to heirs-apparent of Hindustani musical gharanas who have struck an amplified note to give classical music fresh appeal text | Shashi Priya
B
efore sitar maestro Pandit Kartick A new symphony Kumar’s son, Niladri Kumar, started Compromising on purity of tradition for strumming mesmeric inflections on Hindustani musical gharanas never came the electric version of his acoustic easy. While zitar’s journey was marked sitar, he was struggling to add a microphone with obstacles, sarangi’s love affair with to the instrument. Back in late 1980s when electro-pop was inundated with allegations. Niladri was yet to create the Sarangi legend Ustad Sabri zitar, a unique combination of Khan’s grandson, Suhail Yusuf As the scions sitar and guitar, modifying this Khan’s collaboration with rock of traditional stringed instrument even a little fusion band, Advaita, was looked gharanas drew immense flak. His skill down upon. Eighth-generation take charge, was questioned and his strength sarangi player of Moradabad innovation and ridiculed. “People said I lacked Senia gharana, 27-year-old Khan improvisation strength and that’s why I needed confesses many people even said are natural a microphone to aid my sitar,” his sarangi skills have become recalls Niladri. impure. However, it did not Circa 2015: While raging debates of deter his spirit and thus followed technical purists versus mavericks simmer down adaptations. Khan started using finer cello and Hindustani classical music broadens its strings instead of the traditional ones in his horizons even further, Niladri entertains sarangi to amplify the notes. larger audiences with his amplified meends (a glide from one note to another) at concerts Sound of music where his fingers caress the fiery red zitar Predominantly, Indian classical music, with five strings against sitar’s 20. whether Hindustani or Carnatic, has
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