Does classical music have a place in Bollywood?

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Parthiv Gohil
Place of birth:	Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India

Parthiv Gohil, A name synonymous with versatile singing. Undoubtedly his so called break came about with the Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Devdas'. The film has Parthiv's voice in the title song as well as in back vocals. Recently he made his debut as a play back singer in Sanjay leela bansali's "Sawaariya". Parthiv says that singing for sanjay leela bansali's film is not that easy because you need to put in THE BEST of your efforts so as to match and come up to Sanjayji's requirements and expectations. but according to him working with Sanjayji gives a chance to achieve a different level of perfection.

Parthiv was born on 18th February, 1976 in Bhavnagar, a town in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Both his great grand father and father shared a passion for music and it is they who introduced him to the world of classical music.

At the tender age of ten, Parthiv began his formal lessons with smt. bhanuben Solanki, smt. Dakshaben Mehta and shri Laxmipati Shukla, a disciple of Pandit Omkarnath Thakur.

Gradually his interest developed into passion and riyaz (practice) of music became a part of his everyday routine. At the age of 14, he wont the Pandit Omkarnath Thakur Competition, which was followed by the state talent search competition.

Under the gurukul scholarship scheme of SPIC MACAY he was chosen to be trained under Zia-Farid-Ud-Din Daagar, a descendent of the legendary Tansen. From him, Parthiv learnt the tannets of voice culturing. Under the aegis of SPIC MACAY he got to accompany maestros like Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Sultan Khan, Gundecha Brothers and Shri V G Jog on Tanpura and learnt a lot from them as well.

His single minded devotion towards music rewarded him with the runner up title in TVS Sa Re Ga Ma. The competition was judged by renowned names like Pt. Jasraj, Parveen Sultana, Khayyam, O P Nayyar, Kalyanji Anandji, Anil Biswas, Jagjit Singh and Rajkumariji. His voice and style have been appreciated by many and his concerts have enthralled both Indian and overseas audience alike.

And now Parthiv is set to explore new avenues. After proving himself as a talented singer, he is all set to achieve acclaim as a host as well. He is hosting the program Sa Re Ga Ma on Alpha Gujarati channel of ZEE.

Working with Monty Sharma: Monty's work who is in fact making a debut as full-time composer in the industry? It's a known fact that Pyarelal (of Laxmikant-Pyarelal fame) is Monty's uncle. He also gave background score in Bhansali's Black. Speaking about Monty's music, Parthiv says, "Music runs in Montyji's blood. Montyji's music has soul and depth both. So much so that I find it divine. What's more, his insight of music is so great that sometime he starts from the point at where we may feel that the music has already reached its pinnacle. I am really touched by his work."

Parthiv has won two prestigious awards this year:

1) Gujarat Gaurav award from Gujarat government. 2) Best playback singer for the Gujrati film "PREM EK POOJA" Receiving such an award at such a young age is a big honor. Giving his views on it, Parthiv humbly says, "It feels very good that your hard work pays off in such a great manner. At the same time, I believe that my responsibility towards my community and the listeners has increased manifold. I will always try to live up to their expectations." Before this, Parthiv has already won many awards including the Transmedia best male singer award for his song in Gujarati film Tarsi Mamta. Today, when his career is going upwards in rock steady manner, he says smilingly, "It's just the beginning. I am here to do much more in the coming years." Parthiv, all of just 31 years, already has many achievements to his kitty. Hailing from Gujarat's small town Bhavnagar, he first came into limelight when he was declared the runner-up in the first installment of prestigious talent hunt show TVS Saregama. From there on, he grew to anchor the Gujarati edition of the same show, moved to Mumbai to pursue full-fledged career as a singer. Today, he is a name synonymous with extraordinary singing, both in classical and commercial arena.

Though he is a reality show product, to put it very simply, one must say that Parthiv has sincerely grown himself into a dedicated, focussed and superb singer. He has proved it that reality shows do help to grow career, provided you deliver the best.

I would note that despite the seeming downfall of classical music, I think that it is alive and kicking in so many of the contestants in these shows such as Hemachandra, Nihira, Aishwarya, Answesha, Aneek, Amanat, Naina, Pratibha, and others whose names currently escape me. Plus we have Sonu Nigaam with his classically mild album and the incredible Shankar Mahadevan who is a classical singer himself. I also think that these reality shows help promote songs like Mere Dholna, otherwise not heard. I also note that while Bollywood numbers are not classical, we thankfully have South India to add a little spice and class to music. Also I would note that regionally, Indians still value classical music. Most of the Bengalis, Marathis and South Indians I know who are musicians, start with a classical base and rigourous training. I think that the Atif type signers will come and go but classically trained singers like Sonu, Shreya and Sunidhi will last.


I would add that only those who are classicaly trained make a long term mark like ARR.

This I am quoting from a article:

When renowned shehnai masestro Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away last month, one of his close relatives made a telling remark: ?Ab Bismillah Hotel band ho gaya.? The reference was to the hordes of relatives who formed Khansaab?s household and lived off his earnings. The irony drew from a very different kind of poverty: there is a big question mark over who will inherit his unique musical legacy. None of Bismillah?s shehnai-playing sons, relatives or disciples have displayed an iota of his genius. Many fear it?s curtains for the shehnai, an oddball instrument of common origin that Bismillah had singularly breathed life into. In many ways, Bismillah?s life and death mirror the current crisis in Hindustani classical music. A majority of India?s current music maestros, some in their 70s and 80s, and a large number in their late 60s, have no clearly defined line of succession. There are, of course, star children and star disciples, but in many cases, their talent does not live up to the publicity blitzkrieg surrounding them.

Take Gangubai Hangal, in her 90s and ailing, who took the gayaki of the famed Kirana gharana to great heights. After the death of her daughter Krishna Hangal, there is no musical successor in sight. Her unique musical tradition, perfected through years of rigorous riyaaz, could be lost forever. Fellow Kirana gharana vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi has no torchbearer to carry forward his lineage either. Already pushing 84, he has been in poor health for some years now and, after the demise of his wife last year, has hardly performed in public. His son Srinivas, who studied textile engineering at IIT, Delhi, is still finding his.