Speaking through the Sarod

For Ustadji,there exists only two kinds of music – one without words,the pure sound,and the other,songs. “Unfortunately,the world of words is ruling at present and I feel language creates barriers,” says Ustadji,who is here to grace the 3rd Chandigarh Heritage Festival. According to him,one doesn’t need to understand the instrument,“just soak in the sound of symphony and I guarantee you will experience immense peace”.

As he urges his audience to get involved with the music,he tells us how he sings through his instrument,for that’s the beauty of Indian classical music. “It is not written and played like European classical music. Not that I don’t enjoy European symphonies,they are brilliant,but our music is not pre-composed or rehearsed,it’s played spontaneously,and that makes it revered across the world. There can never be an identical concert,” Ustadji creates his music on the spot.

Music is changing,especially classical,and Ustadji is of the opinion that musicians are blindly convention and not tradition. “Tradition is the one that gives more room for innovation.”

As a child,Ustadji narrates how he questioned the sound of the sarod. A difficult instrument to play,it could scream,shout and yell… “tune it well,and it can whisper,talk and sing”,he says,adding how the sarod has the bepardah saaz,and if not played well,can bepardah the musician!

With sons Ayan and Amaan Ali Bangash not here for the concert,Ustadji says it’s time they play more on their own. “Three of us on one stage tends to get cramped and I want each of us to play at leisure.”

He adds how he shares a different relationship with his sons,one which he could not with his father,Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan because of the huge generation gap. “We were strictly guru-shishya.”

Back from representing India in Canada at the Year of India festival which has kickstarted there this March,and tomorrow the three fly to the US for a series of concerts. “You know,my father came to Chandigarh to settle in 1961….we even got a four-bedroom house on a Rs 150 per month rent… but someone suggested Delhi is best as it’s central; so we shifted.”

Available for only those who respect music,Ustadji says he has a bigger responsibility and a different mission,“I am a humble representative of a long legacy,” he says.