Rich voice, richer lineage
SMITA BELLUR
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Vocalist Bhalachandra Nakod, son of the late Pandit Arjunsa Nakod, is a picture of simplicity and sincerity
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TOUGH LIFE Before he turned full-time musician, Bhalachandra Nakod was an electrical contractor
Bhalachandra Nakod, Hindustani vocalist with gifted voice and endless imagination, is a leading light among the exponents of Gwalior-Kirana style. With a characteristic depth, richness and melodic appeal, his singing is widely acclaimed by his fans and fellow musicians alike.
Early years
Music was part and parcel of his childhood; with an illustrious vocalist for a father and three tabla players for his brothers, Bhalachandra was inclined towards vocal music and was initiated by his father and guru Pt. Arjunsa Nakod. Being a frail child, he constantly needed attention: "I owe all I have to my late father and mother. Many an evening I would doze off on my father's lap while he taught; but subconsciously I was imbibing every nuance of the lesson."
His mother Anusuya Bai recalls fondly: "I would pat him to sleep, while I rolled out rotis for the drama unit, little did I know that the puny child would become such a great vocalist." Through his schooling years, Bhalachandra trained in Khayal gayaki in an atmosphere when there was abundant music indeed, but not more than a morsel of puffed rice to feed six hungry stomachs.
Given the limited income that Pt. Arjunsa's drama company brought in, Bhalachandra learnt that it was the need of the hour to prove himself worthy of getting performances that fetched them some money. Intensive riyaz and a lot of active listening followed. To this day, he attributes this shravanagyaan (art of listening) to his knowledge of rare ragas that only a few stalwarts like his father performed.
Around the age of eighteen, when young Bhalachandra listened to his father's rendition of raga Salag Warali (a lesser known morning raga) at the Sawai Gandharva Punyatithi, he was so impressed that it became a turning point of his life - from then on, vocation turned into passion; and long hours of dedicated riyaz ensued.
Within a couple of years, the fruits of his labour were realised. He accompanied his father on a concert tour, which marked the beginning of a long and soulful journey of divine music, dotted with a number of prestigious landmark performances.
Financial constraints in his early twenties meant that Bhalachandra had to toil as an electrical contractor to put bread on the table. Yet, with his steely resolve, he would practise late into the night, after a hard day's work. Within no time, AIR had accredited him with an `A' grade and he featured regularly on AIR and Doordarshan, giving a number of important performances on platforms of repute such as the national programme of music, AIR Sangeet Sammelans, Sprit of Unity concerts and Sangeet Utsavs across the country. Life might have come a long way since those years - from humble beginnings to fully-booked calendars, nevertheless success has not altered his zest for life, his values and a refreshing simplicity.
Musical enlightenment
What is it in music that takes years of mastery to shine? The experienced maestro says: "Though there are just seven notes, one gets a true understanding of these after several years of assimilation. While traversing from one note to the next, one needs to possess the ability to discerningly transit, yet create a seamless glissando". "The singer's expression and ownership is critical in creating an impact; no matter how creative and unusual an alap might be, it would be flat if not internalised," he stresses.
"Listening to good music is extremely important; I continue to be inspired by greats such as Ustad Amir Khan, my father Pt. Arjunsa Nakod (known as `Darbari Bua' for his unforgettable rendition of Darbari Kanada at Bhopal)," says this guru, who gives his students his best.
High Note is a fortnightly column that features musicians of the State.
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