Jamming it up, Ranjit Barot Priyanka Shewakramani / DNA Friday, February 12, 2010 23:59 IST [image: Email] Email <javascript:emailArticle(1346910,1058781);> [image: Print] Print<http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/dnaprint910.php?newsid=1346910> [image: Share] Share<http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_jamming-it-up-ranjit-barot_1346910#share>
*Mumbai: *Ranjit Barot grew up in a classical music family; his mother is the legendary Kathak dancer Sitara Devi. He first discovered the drums at a school music function and his life hasn’t been the same since. And he performed earlier this week with a 12-year-old bass guitarist, Mohini Dey. <http://www.dnaindia.com/img/1346913.jpg> <http://www.dnaindia.com/img/1346913.jpg> Drummer Ranjit Barot, who recently rocked the stage with a 12-year-old bass guitarist, says India has a reservoir of young talent. Ranjit says, “I’ve played with some very heavy duty musicians in my life. I don’t mean to sound pompous but if I am playing with her you can imagine what she will be like in three years. There is a great reservoir of talent in this country and we need to be investing in children as they are the future.” For someone who believes that music in India is treated like a stepchild, he says there are high expectations but no willingness to spend on an education. Explains Ranjit, “We have a serious shortage of able-bodied instrumental musicians who are able to play to the high exacting standards. We also need more families who will expose their children to the arts.” For him, it was the great Indian percussionist master Ustad Alla Rakha, who understood his fascination for the drum set and encouraged him to realise his potential. And he is now known as the drum maestro of India. *His friend AR Rahman calls him India’s best kept secret.* Says Ranjit, “I’m somebody who is trying to attract attention by standing still.” He adds, “Bollywood has some growing up to do in the sound department, it isn’t exactly challenging us. AR Rahman is currently leading the way but he is the only one. I don’t want to sound anti-Bollywood. However, I think our audiences are now more intelligent and that composers should take more chances.” http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_jamming-it-up-ranjit-barot_1346910 -- - Regards ~ ~ A.R.Rajib ~ ~
