The Whistle Blowers

Years later,when he performed at cultural programmes at college,he found he still enjoyed it immensely but was surprised by how much the audience enjoyed it too. That’s when he decided to set up a group for whistling enthusiasts in 2004. Though the group started with just three members,over the past decade,the numbers have swelled to over 100 members spread across Pune,Mumbai,Chennai,Delhi and other cities,as well as overseas members in the US.

One such member is Jagat Tarkas,who cut an album with 15 classic Rafi songs in whistle. “I might be the first Indian to have released an album with recordings of whistling. I think it deserves much more attention than it is getting right now,” he says. Tarkas and Deshpandey were also part of a contingent that competed at the International Whistling Convention in China in 2010 and even won third place at one of the competitions there. “Whistling is not just a hobby abroad; people have made careers out of it. International whistlers have tremendous talent and skill and we want to invite some of them to perform in India,to showcase how serious an art it is,” he adds.

“The whole point of the association is to raise awareness about whistling as a true art. We want people to get excited about it,practise and consider seriously developing their own skills,” says Deshpandey. It was an attempt in this direction that got the association its first record: In 2008,48 members whistled to the tune of Saare jahaan se achha,making a national record for most people whistling together. The association now has their eyes set on breaking a Guinness Record.

“People think whistling is a bad habit. They think it is eve-teasing. Parents tell their children not to whistle because it is rude but it’s not true,” says Deshpandey,giving several examples of girls who also enjoyed whistling,such as Pune-based whistler Priyanka Kher. “I whistle everywhere,on the road,at work,and people stare at me in surprise. But then they say how can a girl whistle so well,” says Kher. She whistles the song Bade achhe lagte hain,and captures all the finer nuances in the original track which sounds like a birdsong in her sweet,clear whistle.

“Earlier,even actors and singers would struggle for recognition,fame and money. But today,with all the reality shows,sponsors,big budget projects,they are doing very well. One day whistlers will also achieve this,” says Tarkas. Indeed,the association is also planning televised projects which might go along the lines of a reality show,or a national televised competition. Deshpandey is hesitant to talk about it before the details are finalised though. “All I can say is that we have planned a lot of things for the next two years and it will be a busy couple of years,” he says.