“Classical music is like pure milk”

“I have been on the wheels and I’m so tired,” she confesses,running through her recent itinerary,which included performances in Europe and Coimbatore. Adjusting her dupatta and placing an order for tea,she continues,“I was 18 when I came to Chandigarh and it was the Kosers who were the first to invite me.” This time too,she is here on the invitation of Shobha,wife of late ML Koser,who is now running the Kendra.

A product of the Patiala-Kirana gharana,61-year-old Parveen feels she has established a unique identity. “I have my own style,which has come with riyaaz and experience,” says Parveen,narrating that her father Ikramil Majid,who was also her guru,told her to never hide two things: age and riyaaz. “Riyaaz is the only thing I believe in. Every performance is a riyaaz. Sitting with the tanpura every morning is riyaaz. We’ve made our voice,but each day we polish it with practise,” says she.

While she has sung the number Vaada tera vaada,for Adnan Sami,in the film 1920,Parveen says that she will only sing for movies and albums if there is a classical base. Would she consider fusion? “That is a tricky thing,just like biryani you need to have the right tadka,masala,tender meat and temperature for it. Fusion is not fusion till the composer/artist has proper knowledge of Carnatic,western and Indian forms of music.” She adds,“Classical music is the mother of all music… it’s like pure milk with which other products are made,like sufi,qawwali and ghazal.”

She recalls the period when art and artists were more sincere,music was the only religion and singers practiced for hours. “Who has the time now? Half an hour to 45 minutes — that’s the performance frame we are given today. Booking concert halls is a problem and the police van is always reminding you of the 10 pm deadline,” says Parveen,looking forward to a meal of aloo paranthas at the Koser residence. Begum Parveen Sultana will perform at Tagore Theatre,Sector 18,Chandigarh,on March 4,at 7 pm.