reality TV shows v classical music

Classical musicians lament onslaught of TV shows
Friday February 17 2006 16:39 IST

IANS

MUMBAI: Popular music-based television shows like "Indian Idol" and "Nach Baliye" are a threat to genuine artistes and a farce in the name of talent search, according to classical musicians.

These artistes feel that in the name of talent search, mediocrity is being attractively packaged and sold to the masses, who are being treated as mere consumers.

"These programmes are merely marketing gimmicks. Parents are approaching me with their wards - irrespective of whether they are talented or not - asking me to make them appear on these shows," said classical vocalist Shoma Ghosh.

"I am not saying that all programmes are bad. The concept of talent search is good," Ghosh told IANS.

"But what they are doing is misleading youngsters into believing as genuine recognition what is ephemeral," said Ghosh, whose godfather is Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Television shows like the "Indian Idol", "Nach Baliye" and "Sa Re Ga Ma" are invariably on the top of the TRP ratings list and have captured the imagination of millions of Indian youth, but they have often been accused of indulging in unfair practices to favour chosen participants.

"The problem is that genuine artistes are not given scope at all, unlike some earlier TV shows like 'Meri Awaz Suno' and the earlier version of 'Sa Re Ga Ma'," said danseuse and cine actress Komal Mahuvakar.

Komal, better known as Roopini on screen, lamented: "Forget private sponsors, people like us don't even get enough government support. Even if we are called for performances, they expect popular filmy stuff."

However, when asked whether television shows are to be blamed if classical art forms are unable to connect to the masses, some said this was a problem inherent in Indian classical music and dance.

"Indian classical music was conceptualised by the pioneers for a higher spiritual purpose and not for entertainment. It was meant for enlightenment," said Anu Kapoor, actor and former presenter of the critically acclaimed "Meri Awaz Suno".

Kapoor said: "To put it in modern terminology, the pioneers marketed classical music only to the elite class. Thus Indian classical music simply lacks mass appeal.

"The point is that classical music should also get the kind of effort, money and time these TV shows receive.

"Michael Jackson and Marijuana may seem to be the popular culture of the west. But look at the popularity of (tenor) Luciano Pavarotti and you will realise he is held in equal reverence as (popstar) Phil Collins."

Source:newindpress.com

agreed..there is a big difference between class and crass
the current mantra is 'sabse bada rupaiyya'..also this is want the majority of the junta wants..so the minority of us will just ve to grin and bear it!!

These purists should share blame for Classical music not being mass popular.

Originally posted by: SolidSnake

These purists should share blame for Classical music not being mass popular.

was about to say the same thing! they made it for the elites, so now the masses don't care about it.

Originally posted by: T.

was about to say the same thing! they made it for the elites, so now the masses don't care about it.

hmmmm

then please explain the success of semiclassical songs when RDB & composers before ruled the roast.

thanks giggles for sharing the article.

"Indian classical music was conceptualised by the pioneers for a higher spiritual purpose and not for entertainment. It was meant for enlightenment"

This was the statement that prompted me to post this article..even tho' it comes from Anu Kapoor whom I dont really like, but I think its very true...pure classical music takes you to another level...it requires a lot of patient listening to begin liking it...

so much so that even in Bollywood music when a song has touched my heart I have always discovered that it was one based on some raag...

And however small it may be...pure classical music will always have a loyal following...

Originally posted by: sunsha

T. and SS

Indian classical music originated from temples and has been in its purest form in spite of it being adulterated by bringing it to the courts of Mughal emperors, thus to give us Hindustani classical in North and Carnatic in south.

The very nature of this music is not palatable to a lame man, coz of the basic human nature. We want things to come easily to us. Why do you think majority of school going students detest the sight of a Maths book, whereas, they would lap up the short stories book loaned from the library or for that M&Bs.

Its incorrect to put the blame squarely on our classical exponents. We do have various organizations in and outside India which are encouraging Indian Classical Music. We do have singers and instrumentalists of both the gharanas performing on same stage together.

I would like to ask, "How much effort have you put in to understand Classical Music". The last time you visited the Music Shack, did you try looking up the latest in Classical Music. Talking of Music Shacks, we have the best selling music of Fusion by Pdt. Zakir Hussain.

Try looking up a few CDs or DVDs of Pdt. Jasraj in concert ,specially with "Jugalbandis" either with another singer or with an instrumentalist. Or just pick up and listen to CDs of Zakir Hussains tabla....Shiv Kumar Sharma's santoor wadan or solo performances/jugalbandis of Hari Prasad Chaurasia's flute with any other instrumentalist. I promise you, you will take a liking to Classical music in a gradual phased manner.
I must confess, I used to detest classical music but have taken a liking to it to the extent of promoting it amongst youth. We are to blame ourselves for not reaching out to it, rather than blame the exponents.

To me, SRGMP is the only genuine program which brings out true singing talent but I must add here in haste, that the moment we give the measuring yardstick in the hands of JUNTA, we have defeated the purpose of conducting such talent search.

With no knowledge or limited knowledge of music, they feel they have become the judges and make appalling decisions in choosing an untalented singer with their subjective perception of music.

I like classical music AND math. I would listen to Beethoven over a Hip-Hop/Rock number any day.

But, pure classical music is more complex. You wont even understand it unless you learn it or have some basic knowledge of it.

Classical music as Adwaraka said originated from the Vedas. And the Vedas were taught restrictively to a class of elites. The masses developed folk tunes.

Even today, we are not given any basic lessons in the development of Indian music in schools. How then can we appreciate the complexity of pure classical music?

Originally posted by: N Sinha

hmmmm

then please explain the success of semiclassical songs when RDB & composers before ruled the roast.

I'm talking about pure classical, not semi-classical.

Originally posted by: sunsha

Vedas gave us chants and hymes and they were part of temples in olden days( but never classical music), as I have read but AD is wrong....It was the Mughal rulers who brought in classical music from temples to suit it to their liking and musicians modified the pureness of temple music to appease the ruler's tastes.

You may understand n like Classical music and Maths...am talking of 80-90% of population who detest both.

When I said "YOU" in earlier post ,it was referred to the "Aawam" as a whole.

The article posted here talks of Classical music and not its intricacies. Basic classical music itslef is difficult to digest by the masses.

We may not have classical music being taught in schools but we do have renowned artists who go down to school levels to play for them and give lecture-deoms explaining the basics of classical music to the students besides encouraging budding talents of classical music.

See, the thing is that I used to be one of the "Aawam" too. I detested both Math and classical music until I started learning them and understood their purpose.

The thing with Math is that its basics are taught in school till grade 10 compulsarily. But, music isn't.

I am not talking about intricacies of classical music. I meant that even its very basic form cannot be really understood unless you learn it.

Even if great stalwarts come to play music in schools, it wont have any impact on the people unless they are forced to listen to it. Its basic incentive, such as marks, etc. which is lacking.

Its like how when we are young, our parents force us to learn prayers, or send us to school. They know better than us, so they make us do the same for our own good. But, if our parents do not teach us something, we do not do it or if we as students are not marked on something which affects our overall grade, we simply do not care, we are not motivated. Its unfortunate, but true for majority of the population.

Since classical music is not propagated in schools, people dont bother listening to it until they grow mature and begin to search for something deeper and more spiritual or try things they never hand a chance to do when they were younger.