A TÊTE-À-TÊTE WITH PANDIT Debu Chaudhuri
"Pandit Debu Chaudhuri a legendary sitar maestro, is winner of Padmabhushan and Padmashree awards. Panditji is awarded with the title of "Sangeet Chudamani" one who has reached the peak of perfection in music."
~Strings N Steps
Q.Can you put into words your own Personality and Persona?
A. It is best described through the tunes of my Sitar.
Q.You are one of the leading Indian classical musicians now. Did you program things this way?
A. Hailing from a business man family I had no background of music. It happened more like an accident. Although I used to love music since my childhood, nobody told me to peruse Sitar playing or encouraged me for that matter. I remember my next door neighbor who used to sing every night ‘AajiNijhumoRaate K BaanshiBajay’ RaagDarbari. That was the time of second world war. One day he saw me listening to his music and told my mother that one day, this boy will become a good musician as he loves music so much. I also used to hear S.D. Burman and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan a lot specially pieces like ‘Jamuna K Teer’. Those music left a lasting impact in my life. My sister in law used to go to a music school and I used to accompany her sometime. One day I heard the Sound of a Sitar and got interested. I went into the school and was watching all the students are playing Sitar over there. That was also my first meeting with my Guru Shri PanchuGopal Dutta. Guruji saw me listening to the music and jokingly asked: “little boy, do want to play? I was delighted and said “definitely I want to play this sir .At once I came back to my house and requsted my father for a Sitar so that I can be a part of the school. Initially my father denied providing me one, but my mother requested him to present me one since she thought it will be a passing phase, and soon I will put my interest into something else. My elder brother brought me a Sitar and that is when it all started. I stood first in almost every music competition of those days and soon started playing in All India Radio. After few years, I continued the learning under the guidance of Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan sahab and took his teaching till his unfortunate demise. Later, I became a part of the Faculty of Music, Delhi University and taught there for almost 40 years. I also travelled all over the world with my music, besides teaching.
Q.There are many changes occurring in India. Yes, indeed. Parampara, in Sanskrit, means tradition, which undergoes uninterrupted change. In this context, what do you think, where does Indian Classical music stand?
A. Indian classical music sits at the very pinnacle of our culture because this tradition of music has started from the times of the Veda . This vedic knowledge and concept is something which India has given to the world. Music is an integral part of the Veda. I come across many anxious questions related to influence of modern technology and music genre on Indian classical music. However, if the roots are strong, it can be contemporary and evolving at the same time, while keeping the importance of the tradition alive.
Q. How would you describe your music? According to you which part of your rendition makes you different from others?Does your style bear any innovation?
A. First of all, let me express my gratitude to my Guru ji Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan Sahab, for his guidance on evolving my own style. Well, I have learnt the sitar from my Guruji in Dhrupad style which means there is very less Murki, or taan kari in the rendition. I don’t follow any particular mannerism like moving my sitar too much. I stay very calm and composed and just let the music come from within. That is why anyone who is well versed with different styles of sitar playing would recognize my style instantly even without seeing me in person.
Q.Will you throw light on your Guru's method of teaching? Is it different from yours? If yes-How? If no-why?
A. In addition to my guru’s method of teaching, I have added my own techniques as well to make the difficult lessons easier for the new comers, or for the students. The style of sitar playing of my guru never contained Meend, but I found out that it adds flavor to my erstwhile technique. These techniques can be easily understood, scanned and played.
Q. Do you think that there are separate methods or techniques in dance for man and woman?
a. No, Music is one. Only difference is that, while you are performing Vocal music, the pitch is obviously different. You might think there is difference between Man and Woman in terms of physical strength but I have heard many female artists playing Gamak with such eloquence that you cannot differentiate it with a male artist.
Q. Does your heart still miss a beat before concerts after so many years of experience?
A. I stared playing in Radio when I was 12 years old. I think, it’s a gift of God that I never felt afraid even though performing in front in front of the great maestros of the time. However, I always felt little nervous playing in front of Guruji.
Q. There is a popular opinion that the Younger generation isn't much interested in classical music- dance forms. Do you agree? How would you justify your opinion?
A. Classical music and dance form is an ever evolving subject. Therefore, even if the interest is going down, I have firm believe that it will always remain alive since it has strong roots in Vedic teachings.
Q. Can you share your most memorable onstage moment?
A. There has been many incidents happened during my musical career, but I remember one small episode where in one concert while I was playing Ahir Bhairabi, I noticed a lady weeping silently hearing my rendition of the raga. This is one moment which I will treasure forever.
Q.What is your favourite Idea of Holidaying? Do you think it is necessary to have leisure-voids while working?
A. I don’t like to sit idle. Work is oxygen for me. I even find something relevant to my work when holidaying. If you ask for a preference however, I would go to hills.
Q.If you were given the chance to live again, how you would want it to be
A. Musician.
Pandit Devabrata (Debu) Chaudhuri is one of the living legends of India, a Sitar virtuoso of post-world-war era. He is the winner of the Padmabhushan and Padmashree awards. Pandit Ji authored six books, composed eight new ragas and numerous musical compositions. Since 1963 he has appeared in numerous radio broadcasts, National Television Channel Doordarshan. He is regarded as one of the leading exponents of Senia-Jaipur Gharana stylized with Dhrupad. He is the former Dean and Head, Faculty of Music, University of Delhi. He has established an institute of performing arts after his Guru’s name, Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan.
A. It is best described through the tunes of my Sitar.
Q.You are one of the leading Indian classical musicians now. Did you program things this way?
A. Hailing from a business man family I had no background of music. It happened more like an accident. Although I used to love music since my childhood, nobody told me to peruse Sitar playing or encouraged me for that matter. I remember my next door neighbor who used to sing every night ‘AajiNijhumoRaate K BaanshiBajay’ RaagDarbari. That was the time of second world war. One day he saw me listening to his music and told my mother that one day, this boy will become a good musician as he loves music so much. I also used to hear S.D. Burman and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan a lot specially pieces like ‘Jamuna K Teer’. Those music left a lasting impact in my life. My sister in law used to go to a music school and I used to accompany her sometime. One day I heard the Sound of a Sitar and got interested. I went into the school and was watching all the students are playing Sitar over there. That was also my first meeting with my Guru Shri PanchuGopal Dutta. Guruji saw me listening to the music and jokingly asked: “little boy, do want to play? I was delighted and said “definitely I want to play this sir .At once I came back to my house and requsted my father for a Sitar so that I can be a part of the school. Initially my father denied providing me one, but my mother requested him to present me one since she thought it will be a passing phase, and soon I will put my interest into something else. My elder brother brought me a Sitar and that is when it all started. I stood first in almost every music competition of those days and soon started playing in All India Radio. After few years, I continued the learning under the guidance of Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan sahab and took his teaching till his unfortunate demise. Later, I became a part of the Faculty of Music, Delhi University and taught there for almost 40 years. I also travelled all over the world with my music, besides teaching.
Q.There are many changes occurring in India. Yes, indeed. Parampara, in Sanskrit, means tradition, which undergoes uninterrupted change. In this context, what do you think, where does Indian Classical music stand?
A. Indian classical music sits at the very pinnacle of our culture because this tradition of music has started from the times of the Veda . This vedic knowledge and concept is something which India has given to the world. Music is an integral part of the Veda. I come across many anxious questions related to influence of modern technology and music genre on Indian classical music. However, if the roots are strong, it can be contemporary and evolving at the same time, while keeping the importance of the tradition alive.
Q. How would you describe your music? According to you which part of your rendition makes you different from others?Does your style bear any innovation?
A. First of all, let me express my gratitude to my Guru ji Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan Sahab, for his guidance on evolving my own style. Well, I have learnt the sitar from my Guruji in Dhrupad style which means there is very less Murki, or taan kari in the rendition. I don’t follow any particular mannerism like moving my sitar too much. I stay very calm and composed and just let the music come from within. That is why anyone who is well versed with different styles of sitar playing would recognize my style instantly even without seeing me in person.
Q.Will you throw light on your Guru's method of teaching? Is it different from yours? If yes-How? If no-why?
A. In addition to my guru’s method of teaching, I have added my own techniques as well to make the difficult lessons easier for the new comers, or for the students. The style of sitar playing of my guru never contained Meend, but I found out that it adds flavor to my erstwhile technique. These techniques can be easily understood, scanned and played.
Q. Do you think that there are separate methods or techniques in dance for man and woman?
a. No, Music is one. Only difference is that, while you are performing Vocal music, the pitch is obviously different. You might think there is difference between Man and Woman in terms of physical strength but I have heard many female artists playing Gamak with such eloquence that you cannot differentiate it with a male artist.
Q. Does your heart still miss a beat before concerts after so many years of experience?
A. I stared playing in Radio when I was 12 years old. I think, it’s a gift of God that I never felt afraid even though performing in front in front of the great maestros of the time. However, I always felt little nervous playing in front of Guruji.
Q. There is a popular opinion that the Younger generation isn't much interested in classical music- dance forms. Do you agree? How would you justify your opinion?
A. Classical music and dance form is an ever evolving subject. Therefore, even if the interest is going down, I have firm believe that it will always remain alive since it has strong roots in Vedic teachings.
Q. Can you share your most memorable onstage moment?
A. There has been many incidents happened during my musical career, but I remember one small episode where in one concert while I was playing Ahir Bhairabi, I noticed a lady weeping silently hearing my rendition of the raga. This is one moment which I will treasure forever.
Q.What is your favourite Idea of Holidaying? Do you think it is necessary to have leisure-voids while working?
A. I don’t like to sit idle. Work is oxygen for me. I even find something relevant to my work when holidaying. If you ask for a preference however, I would go to hills.
Q.If you were given the chance to live again, how you would want it to be
A. Musician.
Pandit Devabrata (Debu) Chaudhuri is one of the living legends of India, a Sitar virtuoso of post-world-war era. He is the winner of the Padmabhushan and Padmashree awards. Pandit Ji authored six books, composed eight new ragas and numerous musical compositions. Since 1963 he has appeared in numerous radio broadcasts, National Television Channel Doordarshan. He is regarded as one of the leading exponents of Senia-Jaipur Gharana stylized with Dhrupad. He is the former Dean and Head, Faculty of Music, University of Delhi. He has established an institute of performing arts after his Guru’s name, Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan.
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