Fusion is confusion!
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The versatile singer feels that any form of music should be simple and easily understood by the layman.
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Pt. Chunnilal Mishra.
Chhannulal Mishra was engrossed sipping his favourite soft drink at Hotel Viceroy, when a young fan walked up to him modestly and touched his feet. After a few minutes of pleasantries, the fan wished him, "Sir, I pray that you live for at least 70 years." A visibly bemused Chhannulal muttered "Arey baba meri umhar sathar ho chukhi hai." But then given the vocal maestro's deceptive demeanour and gung-ho for singing, the fan could not be blamed for the effusive remark.
Gifted with a huge repertoire in the genre of semi-classical vocals like Thumri, Jhula, Chaiti, Kajri and Sohar, the veteran vocalist has completed over five-and-half decades of singing. But neither age nor accolades has in any manner diminished Chhannulal's fire and enthusiasm for singing.
But what stands him out, as a distinct artiste from others is his innate knack of attempting to strike an instant rapport with the listeners during each show. Before commencing any song Mishra makes it a points to explain the nuances of the composition to the listeners.
Growing disinterest
"These days you mostly find people walking out of the auditorium to sip tea and while away their time. That's because classical musicians have made the concerts so complicated that the common man has lost interest in the subject," says Mishra.
In their eagerness to excel, most of the artistes complicated the subject" , he says.
Mishra who represents the Benares style of singing with rich compositions on Lord Krishna - his favourite deity - feels that compared to Carnatic music, Hindustani vocal is more intricate and complicated to render and understand. The versatile singer feels that every form of music has its distinct style, hence, the so-called fusion music does not work. "They are not fusion music but confusion music," he quips .
A teetotaller and pure vegetarian, Mishra insists that to maintain a robust health , a singer should keep away from liquor and non-vegetarian food. But then Mishra confesses that he is a diehard fan of Pepsi. "I never commence my shows without a bottle of Pepsi, or sipping in between the concert," he says with a wink.
R.B.
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Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
