Musical Greats

A Sunday afternoon - 1.30 pm. I was back from German class, all set to gulp something down and hit the bed. Everyone was glued to ETV Marathi. I thought to myself 'It's the usual". A moment later I was sporting a wide grin. I had just realized what the next programme was. It was the beginning of a wonderful afternoon.

I was glued to Vasantotsav - a celebration of the music and life of Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande, one of the finest vocalists and thespians ever. Rahul Deshpande, his grandson, rendered some of Vasantrao's most delectable songs - thumris, ghazals, natyageeta et al. Rahul's voice and style of rendition closely resemble those of his grandfather's. What a legacy!

As I listened to the lilting notes I wondered again, as I had before, what it would have been like to listen to someone like Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande live. The presence, the aura and the absolute mastery of their craft that such people possess - it must be overwhelming to be there, being entranced by the magic called music. I have been to a few concerts myself, notably one by Ghulam Ali. It is a spellbinding experience. Incidently, both Ghulam Ali and Pt. Vasantrao hail from the Patiala gharana.

I will always be envious of my parents. They had the great fortune of witnessing greats like Pt.Vasantrao Deshpande, Pt. Kumar Gandharva, Begum Akhtar and many more perform in their prime. And now that I have begun to appreciate classical music, I yearn for the good ol' times. I just wish I were born a generation or two earlier - to live the golden era of music.

Meanwhile, I woke up. The mellifluous tunes had lulled me to sleep. The programme had long ended, but the music had still played in my dreams. I smiled to myself. Rahul had weaved the same magic as his grandfather. The greats have left us a vast treasure-trove of sublime music and are inspiring a whole new generation of artistes like Rahul Deshpande. And so I hope for a new golden age - one that I'll be a part of.

Starters!

And so I have finally overcome my writer's block. I know 'lack of inspiration' is a poor excuse for my laziness. But I have now decided to record the 'little things' in my life, so that i can look back upon these "Eureka!" moments later in life. Somewhat like Dumbledore storing his thoughts in the pensieve. Maybe these very thoughts would help me solve a dilemma in the distant or the near future.So, here it goes!