Rhythms of change

There are actors who choose to defy odds and venture beyond the 'regular'.

Actor/playwright Girish Karnad,who inaugurated the Baajaa Gaajaa Festival on Friday,feels that it reflects the changing face of Indian music

There are actors who choose to defy odds and venture beyond the ‘regular’. With their on-screen persona,they strike an instant chord with the audiences. Playwright and theatre and film actor Girish Karnad belongs to that breed of artistes. Karnad inaugurated the Baajaa Gaajaa festival on Friday at Ishanya Mall and he aptly remarked: The Indian music scenario is ready for such festivals.

People may say that this is not a true representation of the Indian classical music scene,but then everything does not need to be similar. In fact,the fusion of various styles promotes a better understanding of music, he says about the festival.

Karnad will be attending the entire festival. His love for notes and rhythms comes forth when he speaks of music. He feels that the face of Indian music has changed over the last half century. Take a look at the way the west perceived Indian classical music 50 years back and compare it with the present day. There is a world of difference. In fact,now they admit that the music here is much more varied,rich and complex.

The three-day music festival will feature around 50 performances,documentary screenings,seminars on film-making and music,lectures on singing bhakti music,kabir verses and traditional Japansese music, and an exhibition of music-related merchandise. Artistes like Hariharan,Suresh Wadkar,Papon and the East India Company,Niladri Kumar,Satyajit Talwalkar,flamenco guitarist Juan Diego,and percussionist IsraelKatumba Mera will regale Pune audiences.

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