Classical music: Paving the way for Bollywood?

Are Pakistani classical singers following a typical formula for success?


Rafay Mahmood July 02, 2011

KARACHI:


The advent of Indus Music (IM), the first ever private music channel of Pakistan, at the start of the new millennium turned a new chapter in the country’s history. IM offered a platform for many immensely talented people to showcase their talent. One such band, which debuted on this new music channel, was Fuzon, which became a raging success overnight.


Seasoned musicians, Immu Momina and Shallum Xavier, teamed up with Shafqat Amanat Ali, the pride of Patiala Gharana, in this band. The group took people, not only in Pakistan but even across the border, with a storm. Even though nobody quite knows what  caused  this super hit band’s break up, one thing is quite apparent: Shafqat Amanat Ali chose Bollywood over local music.

Before we go into the details of this development, let’s consider another example: Javed Bashir, the phenomenal vocalist from Meekal Hassan Band, abandoned his band and released his solo debut “Subrung” in India and subsequently in Pakistan.

After Shafqat’s departure from Fuzon, the release of Bashir’s solo album is deja vu; in both scenarios a classical vocalist hailing from a well-known musical gharana joined a pop/rock band and then eventually moved to Bollywood. The music groups may have disbanded due to personal reasons but the bigger question is: Does pop music merely provide a platform for classically-trained vocalists for getting commercial success and international popularity?

“In Pakistan the only way classical musicians can make a mark in contemporary music is by joining a pop band. Yet it imposes the stipulation of loyalty towards the band,” said Ahsan Bari, a professional musician and former faculty member at National Academy of Performing Arts.

Reflecting on the current state of classical music in Pakistan, Bari believed that it is not evolving to suit contemporary preferences. Hence artists are choosing the short-cut to success by joining mainstream bands and quitting them later.

“Western Classical has evolved into present day jazz and pop, yet it doesn’t mean that it has atrophied completely. Western Classical still exists but it has kept itself open to change which is not the case with our stagnant state of classical music,” commented Bari, who himself is a classically trained vocalist.

He added, “The concept of gharanas (families with a tradition of music) has always existed and musicians like Mozart and Beethoven were a part of such families. Yet as society progressed, classical music started accepting other musical influences. But this did not happen in Pakistan and thus our classical singers like Shafqat Amanat Ali, failed to produce hit music on their own.”

The musician cites the Indo-Jazz collaboration (a hybrid musical genre consisting of jazz and Indian classical music) between Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain and British jazz fusion guitarist, Mclaughlin, in the band Shakti, as an example of evolving trends in classical music.

“Yet such stuff has been done by only very few pop artists in Pakistan. Rohail Hyatt’s Coke Studio is a good example of fusion of classic and contemporary music genres” he pinpointed.

Thus since classical singers, who typically cannot innovate to suit current tastes, follow the typical career formula of first joining a pop band and then moving solo to Bollywood, explains Bari.

Highly acclaimed producer Rohail Hyyat commented, “I dont blame any artist for going to Bollywood because artists also have to make ends meet.”

Thus, with limited opportunities for reaping financial profits at home and increasing demand for our talented singers rising across the border, it seems that many more classical musicians are bound to ultimately join the Indian film industry.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (3)

mohammed+abbasi | 12 years ago | Reply sharing :)
Paras Vikmani | 12 years ago | Reply Talents from Pakistan are welcome to India :)
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