On a Different Note

The lives and times of Delhi-based classical musicians Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra have been documented in a film.

It was an evening at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Festival in Pune that theatre actor and filmmaker Makarand Brahme vividly remembers,even after 36 years. He was a 21-year-old student at that time. He recalls the moment when these two musicians walked in with a visible nervousness and perched themselves on the stage to strum the strings of the surmandal. The two brothers sounded like one. There was not even an iota of difference in what they sang. The notes were layered beautifully, says Brahme,who has now made a film on the Delhi-based classical musicians Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra. The film,titled Adwait Sangeet,is a first on the life and times of the renowned musicians,who are the torchbearers of the Banaras gharana. The film that premiered at the International Film Festival of India in Goa was screened in Delhi on Monday

I have been wanting to make a film on them for a long time but could not find the right opportunity, says Brahme about the Padma Shri awardees,who are known for their unique style of music in which the words of the bandish (composition) and the music are equally important; unlike most gharanas where the lyrics are not valued much.

The initial part of the film has been shot in Dehradun,in the gurukul where the Mishras teach. It follows them through various concerts,interviews and riyaaz sessions. There is no voice-over and the film works its way with various emcees,who introduce the musicians during concerts. Among other family members,kathak maestro Birju Maharaj,their distant relative,also talks about the musicians. An interesting bit in the film is when,during a riyaaz session,the brothers are singing a thumri by the legendary Bindadin Maharaj,and Birju Maharaj suddenly stands to give expressions in the bhav thumri style. It is a beautiful moment, says Brahme,who was a line producer for television shows like The Sword of Tipu Sultan,Chanakya and Chandrakanta.

The film also traces the musicians roots,with interviews in Banaras and concerts recorded on the banks of Ganga. The brothers allowed me to access the vast library in their house and the rarest of footage from their career. The documentary also has scenes from their younger days,when Rajan and Sajanji learned music from their father, says Brahme,who is also looking forward to editing 45 hours of surplus footage for a DVD that will be released next year. The film,meanwhile,will travel to film festivals world over.

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