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The Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Chat

Damini: See, every form of music has its own charm and it cannot be compared to other genres of music. In todays muisc directors if the give a nice tune , for example A R Rehman he is different from others and very creative and he is a good keyboard player also . I also sometimes like Anu Malik and his plagarised songs like Mera Piya Ghar aaya and Macarena. Its okay he has lifted the tunes but he has Indianised them and you should look it from the point of view that he has changed the tunes to Indian tastes and the songs have become popular.

Bhattji, thank you for your reply, sorry for the delay in replying. Like many Indians, i have grown up hearing western music. Is this due to bad marketing of Indian music, or is that Indian classical (both Hindustani and Carnatic) take an older person to appreciate? And how can Indian classical music be popularised?

Common Chords: In the slide guitar we have the benefit of playing 'meed' 'gamak'etc which is an essential element of Indian classical music. In Spanish guitar , there are 'frets ' on which the meed and gamak are little difficult . That is why I think slide guitar is best suitabnle for Ibndian classsical music close to the mohan vina.

Damini: See, every form of music has its own charm and it cannot be compared to other genres of music. In todays muisc directors if the give a nice tune , for example A R Rehman he is different from others and very creative and he is a good keyboard player also . I also sometimes like Anu Malik and his plagarised songs like Mera Piya Ghar aaya and Macarena. Its okay he has lifted the tunes but he has Indianised them and you should look it from the point of view that he has changed the tunes to Indian tastes and the songs have become popular.

Are you aware of any performers of guitar for Carnatic Music ? Any plans of collaborating with any Carnatic musicians ?

hey rediff, why so long no read???

to music bhakt: patience, my friend

panditji, dont u think that these muscians in the name of adapting the tunes to indian tastes are carrying plagerization a bit too far(macarena tune used in six films!!) why dont they show originality?There are only a few like AR Rehman and Vishal of Machis.

Music Bhakt: Indian classical is not only for older people . I have seen tremendous response from young students for my concerts where ever I go and they find the music even more exciting than the western music sometimes. I'm on the mission of popularising Infian classical music all over the world and also by combining our music with other form of music . I also agree with the pooor marketing of India classical music there should be some improvement . One thing is when we go to concerst at that time the sales of our cassettes pick up but for it to increase even further something should be organised so that the recordings of Indian clasical music is available in every music store.

Panditji, we know of a Carnatic guitarist named R. Prasanna who plays the electric guitar with frets and has developed a technique for gamak and meend. An encounter between Prasanna and yourself would be fascinating. Will you let us initiate this encounter? Pavan, this is also in response to your question.

Panditji, it's been 90 minutes since you started chatting. Many thanks for your time. I prostrate before you.

To Common Chords: Thanks for the answer. Are there any CDs of his (R. Prasanna) out ?

Namashkar, Panditji. Good night.

Damini: Maybe the reason is that Macarena became so popular worldwide and that music directors think that if they lift the tune the music will sell and thats what their producers want. In a way it is a trend which everyone is following blindly. So I think at one stage that trend will have to be changed and the basis of our music must be incorporated in our songs and our film music directors should use the wealth around available in our tradition.

Pavan, no cds (yet) but we have a fair amount of very good quality recordings. Prasanna has some albums of Carnatic music available in the south (India). If you need more info connect with us at Santacruz Productions, Armaan, 23, Saraswati Rd. Santa Cruz West Mumbai 400054. Panditji, sorry for this little diversion in the chat with you. But it has been wonderful. We're sticking around!

Thanks Panditji for sharing with us your thoughts and making the time for us for this chat. All the best in the coming year and may the Grammy be your again in 1997. Regards. Signing off, Pavan

Common Chords: I haven't heard him but I know that he is doing a good job like U Srnisvasn did to mandolin. I usually prefer solo programs .

Panditji, thanks for a great chat! It was a great alaap ... we had a good jod, when can we do the jhala?!! All the very best for 1997

Pvan: I heard of Prassana recently . I sometime ago combined with the famous L Subramaniam . It depends on the artist and I may combine with some Carnatic musician . I always prefer solo.

Thanks for your response . Will see you soon somewhere!!!

Thanks panditji, we had a wonderful time chatting with u, all the best for the Grammy!

Thanks panditji, we had a wonderful time chatting with u, all the best for the Grammy!