Modern Indian Music

chillibreeze writer — Samata Dutta

Although not always welcome, change is inevitable and necessary. The same holds true in case of music- more specifically Modern Indian Music.

Over the years, the quintessential raags and taals of Indian classical music have been replaced with influences of western scales and beats. The commercial viability of such fusion sounds is widespread. Percussions, synthesized tunes and distortions can be found in abundance.

Some Indian musicians have taken the phrase "old is gold" a little too seriously and have taken it upon themselves to remake classics composed by the likes of R.D.Burman and Laxmikant-Pyarelal and sell them brazenly as their own. Slow melody has given way to heady remixes.

Even compositions of Rabindranath Tagore have not been spared. Director/musician and occasional actor Anjan Dutta's latest movie "The Bong Connection" pays homage to its Bengali roots by remaking Tagore's famous song "Paagla Hawa" complete with English lyrics and westerns instruments like the guitar and the drum.

Since a large section of music listeners in India swear by Bollywood soundtracks, this market has the widest of musical variations and genres. Bhangra is probably the most popular and exploited of genres among others. It is easy to choreograph on, and is always attractive to the young ear. Popular artists in this field are Daler Mehendi, Mika, Sukhbir and Sukhwinder Singh.

Artists like Kailash Kher have been able to withhold traditional Sufi sounds even today. Romantic lyrics and harmonic melody have still not lost their magic.
Although the mid and late 90's saw playback singers like Sonu Nigam and Abhijeet cut a number of pop albums; forgettable music and repetative lyrics have squeezed them out of the market automatically. However, their contemporary ghazal singers like Jagjit Singh and Pankaj Udhas still boast of a loyal fan base due to their originality and beautiful strain.

Bollywood soundtracks of the recent past are hardly devoid of English lyrics, thrown in regardless of meaning or relevance. Songs like "Where's the Party Tonight", "You are My Sonia", "Zara Zara Touch Me" and "Lucky Boy" are examples of such compositions. Hip-hip, Rap and Rock are finding their place amidst Indian music as well thanks to Indian artists like Bally Sagoo and DJ Suketu. Joining hands with them are international exchange artists like Hard Kaur, Jay Sean, Rishi Rich and elctronic funk musicians Shaa'ir + Func.

In 2008, Bollywood music composers went a step ahead and roped in American Rapper Snoop Dogg to jam with our favourite macho-man Akshay Kumar in the song "Singh is Kinng" from the movie of the same name.

Percussionist Bikram Ghosh has made quite a name based on his successful amalgation of the tabla, flute and even the xylophone. His first album "Rhythmscape" comprising of tracks like "Gangotri", "Krishna" and "Tandav" are full of the sounds of raindrops, thunder and wind giving it an earthy feel amidst the western tunes.

Every city in the country boasts of local bands, most of which claim to be the Rock/Metal genre. Jazz and Latin influences can also be found.

However, one thing common among such musical groups is their "influence". Rock musicians like Pink Floyd, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Megadeath, Beatles, Credence Clearwater Revival and the likes are staples of members of such bands. Jazz influences like Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Nina Simone and Santana's Latin-American sounds are also common. Original compositions are few and rare, and only a handful of them can be deemed as "music". The rest of it can be discarded as shameless plagiarism, and noise.

Even in the middle of such remixes, raps and rockers, cities like Delhi and Kolkata host regular musical sessions with artists like Ravi Shankar along with his daughter Anoushka Shankar, and Ustad Amjan Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan Aliu Bangash. At one of his concerts, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, in the middle of his performance laughingly asked a young girl if he was boring her with his music! Although it was in good humour, there is a certain section of society in the city who deem classical Indian music as boring and slow. Hard as it may be to believe, the taste and preference pattern of music in India has changed. As to it being for the better or for worse, is something I refrain from commenting on!

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Samata writes for chillibreeze.

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