Bollywood Mein Jo Bajta Hai, Woh Music Nahin Hai: Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty - Exclusive

A doyen of raaga music in India, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty was recently in the National Capital to perform at the Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival. Honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award, the third highest civilian award in India in 2020, Chakrabarty lent his voice to songs Har Koi Samjhe in Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram, as well as Aan Milo Sajna in Sunny Deol's Gadar: Ek Prem Katha.

In a candid conversation with Zoom at the sidelines of the prestigious event, the raaga music maestro shared his thoughts on the position of such ethnic tunes in contemporary India and whether he identifies with Bollywood music at large.


"Hawa mein, hawa se tasveer banana ka naam hai gaana," Chakrabarty settled in, adding, "This is what music means to me."

However, according to him, "yahaan kahaani khatam nahin hota hai."

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"Hawa toh sabke paas hai. Magar use of air in a definitive learned process, hawa ko kaise tasveer banana hai isko seekhna padhta hai. Jab music ko samjhenge toh ye lagega ke music is a way of life. Music is painting. It is medicine. It is the highest form of art. Music is specific frequencies through which we can portray the picture of some lyric. It is a great thing, and it cannot be learnt through books,” he explained.


Chakrabarty, however, rued that "Logon ko iske baare mein acchi tadeeke se andaaza nahin diya gaya hai. Isliye log samajhte hai ke Bollywood mein jo bajta hai, wahi music hai. Woh music nahin hai. Jo rhythm, lyrics, aur freqeuncies ke zariye express hota hai, woh music hai."

The musical maestro went on to compare music with contemporary scenarios. "Cinema explains the condition of life. Aajkal zamaane mein life jesa hai, music wesa hai. If we use the word bhidu while talking, do we turn it into music? Life mein art, tradition, culture ka value hoga, toh music bhi raag based hoga. Aaj jitna reality show hai, 90 per cent raag based hai. All immortal songs hai, all have been composed from raagas."


"Today the most important thing around us are the elections. Does that mean we should make music on elections? Definitely not," he said as he signed off.