Popularity Vs Passion - My personal view

When one of my close friends said that I should have released at least 100 albums by now on different instruments and genres of music and that I am not driven by ambition, I thought to myself, it is not about ambition but about your own passion. The finer your thinking process is, the lesser I guess is the craving for fame or popularity, but, popularity as such can be finite whereas passion is infinite. To me, fame (whose definition could vary from person to person), the more of it, can be a hindrance to growing up with music and for further learning. When you have more than one instrument to play and enjoy, where is the time to be bothered about fame? How could I ever be satisfied with my music when there is oceans of musical poetry that one could sing or play and infinite possibilities awaiting to be tapped into? My friend said it is not for me but to the music lovers out there that I owe my musicality, and spread my music for them to enjoy etc. I agree, may be that is what it should have been. What drives me is not the recognition that I would be getting from people but the joy it gives me when I play and also share my joy with others. Of every 10 people that love your music there will be at least 2 that won't or rather will put you down. That is the unavoidable fact about being a part of the field of music, especially in India. As a musician, I am not personally much concerned about fame and popularity. Soul's satisfaction comes from not selling my self as a commodity but by achieving as much as I could and learn as much as I could in this life time of opportunity and blessings. I am not interested in ego trips that popularity brings but at the same time am not decrying it too. As I believe in blessings, I believe that everything happens when it has to happen, at the right time. So, I am positive I will be sharing my music with the world in many ways and not just through the number of albums I might release. I derive great joy when I share/perform my music, be it in a big theatre with hundreds or to a handful of friends and music lovers in an intimate space. The setting is immaterial, the genre is immaterial. As much as I love to play my Carnatic music instrumental solos which are my first big love, I also love to play music in many settings and in many genres. I am someone who believes that a musician is complete when he/she can fit in many roles and not become confined to one category (which is rather a cpmfort zone), even though one could definitely give priority to a particular role. No one should assess or grade a musician based on the number of albums they released, although good musicians should circulate their music with albums for music lovers to enjoy them, it is not imperative that it should be the rule. There could be some musicians that wouldn't want to circulate their music as much through the electronic media. There are many commercial houses that exploited many a musician in search of popularity, by making money out of their albums where the musicians were not paid or rather under-paid. There were numerous such offers that came my way and I refused them, otherwise, my friend would be seeing at least 50 such albums of mine in the market. I have given my art and its 'blessings' the responsibility to take me further in my music. More important is my own progress in my path and what joins me along the path is incidental and may be providential. :-)

A 'Must read' for those enthusiasts who want to know about the past of our music !!

Go to this link to read a confusing article by a very 'popular' carnatic vocalist and an enlightening comment on it by my good friend Dr. Hari Subrahmanian.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/article1072944.ece?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d29926c8cfc4fcc%2C0

Indian Music and Bhakthi

Indian music has always been an occult art form. There is a question in many rasikas' (avid listeners) minds whether the intrinsic quality of Indian music being 'spiritual' is changing in the present day music world. The reason obviously is the extent of importance being given to the artiste than the art. Do we see many a musician being reverent to the art while performing or are they self-indulgent? Yes, Of course the musicians do have the responsibility to engage the listeners' attention as they come to enjoy an evening of satisfying music. As the concerts are a visual medium, the performers need to be presentable. But there is a limit to that. I see no wrong in enjoying myself as a musician as sometimes we just forget ourselves and sometimes we engage in musical conversation and in musical fun with fellow musicians on stage. That is so normal. But then why are many rasikas (music enthusiasts and music lovers) feeling that the reverence for music is not seen in present day concerts? Is it because some musicians take everything for granted and just present themselves instead of their music? A point to ponder. When the aspect of bhakthi (devotion or reverence) for the music is present in the heart of the performer, whoever it may be, then the element of ostentatiousness would not occur. Why do some artistes indulge in such acts that make the rasika uncomfortable or leave them feeling amused, we know not. Do we need that attitude if we really believe in sharing good music with others? Or is it all about displaying our wares (musically)? Once we understand what those incomparable compositions stand for (yes, that of the divine Trinity), these superficial acts to impress the rasika other than with music, would cease to be. Being presentable and having an attitude on stage is different from being ostentatious. We know the difference. Our music (Classical) is not like that of popular or film music. We have a discipline and bhakthi so intrinsic to our music without which the essence of what we want to present will not be seen or heard.