[arr] The sight of music

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 21:42:43 -0800


The sight of music


I am never tired of repeating the story of the Japanese listener who wrote in to All India Radio. He begged them not to change the timings of a filmi geet programme, because he could not go to sleep unless he heard it at bed time.

In fact, AIR Shillong once got a request from a listener in Latin America who had got a freek reception of the same kind of programme. But this is radio, which carries all over the world mostly uncensored and freely available.

The same could not be said of television where music has been the greatest causality. Private channels have no time for it and last time I heard it, DD's National Programme of music, a weekly late night show, was putting on the most medicore singers.

Which was, however, better than the National Programme of Dance, where the middle aged wives of bureaucrats seemed to get priority. So it is with a happy frame of mind that in the recent past I have come across some welcome music of all types on TV.

Don't ask me to name the channels because once the music starts I tend to close my eyes and relax. And in this sudden bonanza, I do not include the terrible Indian idol type music contests where the judges are even more suspect than the medicore singers who seem to score. And recently we have even had a regional row when, apparently, a singer from Assam was not considered an Indian.

However, back to the good, unexpected music on TV. It started with the BBC, one week-end honouring Mozart in this special year, by putting on BBC World one of his concert in full. Then introducing us to to the solo pianist who was from Eastern Europe, now settled in England. Interviewing him and his musician family in an idyllic cottage out in the country. Not to be outdone, some Indian channels allowed suit.

There was a wonderful public occasion when AR. Rahman seemed to be rehearsing with Hariharan. It was enthralling. Rahman gets so charged up, often bursting into song himself, that one also gets carried away.

Ironically, it is presentation and awards ceremonies which bring forth longer sessions of music. A commercial firm, last week, had Remo Fernandes at his infections best first singing some ragas in pop style with a wonderful solo dholak player keeping him company. But soon enough, he reverted to his beloved Goan songs and the entire staid- looking audience of businessmen and their page 3 wives chipped in.

Usha Uthup also incites her audiences into joining in, but when she is being interviewed she bores us by giving the story of her life before being asked.

Then there was a very touching , long tribute to R D. Burman. A visibly moved Rajesh Khanna watched from the front rows as a very good singer to us through RD Burman's most loved songs, with occasional cuts of the film sequence where it is sung by a young and vibrant Rajesh Khanna.

Burman's old friend, Gulzar then came on stage to recite a poem for his late friend about how they had once got caught in the rain and how they had laughed and enjoyed.it. As song after song poured out, one realised how some of them are a part of our lives.

However, for me the most moving music sequence on TV remains the rendering of Jana Gana Mana by our top classical singers and instrumentalist. It always brings a lump to my throat. But while I still get bored by the unending Rabindra Sangeet on Air Kolkata wherever I visit, it is still better then the Mumbai filmi geet which is taking over.

Surely it is a tribute to Rahindranath that two countries have adopted his songs as National Anthems. India with Jana mana and Bangladesh with Sheikh Mujeeb is favour to Amar Sonar Bangla. Quite something, isn't it?

Joke of the week, on the a electable satirical programme Gustakhi Maaf of NDTV Hindi, Saurav Ganguly meets Inzamamul Haque, remarks they are two captains in trouble and Saurav warns aloo. " Now aloo be careful and don't get bird 'Flu. " How can I get bird Flu?" asks aloo, really puzzled " I am not a bird". Lovely humour, and so innocent too. Nothing like it on the two upstart new English channels eternally chasing exposes.


--
Regards,

.......Sajna.

Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic.
Only at arrahmanfans.com - The definitive A.R.Rahman e-community.

Homepage: http://www.arrahmanfans.com
Admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]



SPONSORED LINKS
New music artists Christian music artists Country music artists
Music artists New country music artists Unsigned music artist

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS



Reply via email to