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Mellifluously yours

Photo: V. Sudershan

In a blue mood! Hariharan in New Delhi.

He confesses that he gets bored very easily. Maybe that’s why singer Hariharan reinvents himself often. His latest album, Waqt Par Bolna, is another of his attempts to do something different with his music. The collection of 10 songs falls under ‘Urdu Blues’, a genre created by Hariharan himself. The concept is an amalgamation of Urdu ghazals and Western instruments in Blues style that gives the songs a global feel yet keeps the Indian essence in place.

His previous album and the first one to come out in this category, Kaash, met with huge success. And seven years later, the new album, he says, is an upgradation from the previous one. “Good work takes time and in this album the style of composition has changed a lot. It is very groovy and drum oriented. It’s funky but not Bollywood-like. I have worked with many musicians, so you will hear a lot of different instruments in this album,” explains the 52-year-old maestro.

But he assures us that the authenticity of ghazal has not been lost in this contemporary effort. “It is just a reflection of the changing times. I am a modern man and believe in keeping up with the world. That doesn’t mean distorting the tradition. What is tradition at the end of the day?

During the Amir Khusrau era, ghazals were written in Farsi and there were no accompanying instruments. But with Mehdi Hasan, instrumentation came into being, and later Ghulam Ali brought into it. The tradition itself has been ever changing.”

Beautiful as the language may be, Urdu is losing its sheen in the world of art. And Hariharan’s effort to take it to the masses through his music is indeed commendable.

But how important is it for an artiste to play to the gallery and mould the music according to the people’s taste? “I don’t make my music targeting an audience. That way creativity will get diluted. I believe that good work will automatically find an audience. Today I came out with Waqt Par Bolna, tomorrow I may do something as soulful and simple as Visaal.

Of late, he has been travelling the world with his music, giving concerts and cutting albums. As a result his playback singing has taken a backseat. “I think that’s good. That means I am doing more creative work. Anyway I don’t think today’s film songs need a Hariharan,” chuckles the National Award winner and Padma Shri recipient.

That’s strong a statement coming from a man who has given nearly 30 years to the film industry. As you prod further, he adds, “There’s very little good music coming out today. People’s taste has changed considerably as well.”

But good music stays alive forever. Colonial Cousins is a proven example. Even 11 years after its release, it still reigns among the music lovers. “We realised the same, and that’s why Leslie I and decided to come out with another Colonial Cousins album this December,” says the singer, who also tried his hand at acting with the Tamil movie “Power” alongside actress Khushboo.

“Acting is an art,” he comments. “I enjoyed every bit of it. Who said singers cannot be actors? I would love to do it again.”

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