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In tune with the Mahatma
ANUJ KUMAR
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Abhay Sopori turns composer with “Mahatma”, a documentary on Gandhi, which was shown at the UN recently.
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Photo: Anu Pushkarna
Of deep sounds Abhay Rustum Sopori with his father Pandit Bhajan Sopori in New Delhi.
As the new generation takes over in classical music, there is an attitudinal shift as well in the way classical musicians want to be seen. Take Rahul Sharma or Aman and Ayan Ali Bangash. They are no longer opposed to being seen in the videos of their
albums with girls roaming around with carefree abandon. But Abhay Rustam Sopori is a little different. A scion of santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Abhay has no issues with the music videos but doesn’t want to leave his instrument for a girl. “I agree these days your music should be seen, but my instrument is my first love and I don’t want to be depicted in a frivolous fashion.” Abhay is in news these days as his compositions with his father for “Mahatma” have won him rave reviews. The documentary was shown at the United Nations on October 2 to celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence.
“The film focuses on how Gandhiji became Mahatma. The film goes through his life in India and abroad and depicts how various incidents in Gandhi’s life shaped him to immerge as a great soul who gave the world a mantra for life — peace, love and non-violence,” says Abhay.
Abhay adds the director of the film G.S. Raina wanted some new sounds to enliven the archival material. “My brief was to communicate musically the variegated thoughts of the legend shown. Generally when we show scenes of violence, the background score comes from tabla beat or some rhythmic patterns. Here I have introduced some new notes and sounds in scenes which talk about 9/11 and the Hiroshma and Nagasaki bombings.” Even in the sequence depicting Mahatma’s death, Abhay says he has used melody which has positive appeal to it.
“It has a Hollywoodish feel to it, as I have used some Western arrangements with traditional Indian sounds of sarangi and tanpura.” The aim, says Abhay, is to reach out to the youth. “They will take the message of the Mahatma forward.” He says Raina has used some of the archival material which has never been seen before. “My favourite is a clip where Gandhiji is seen sitting with a child in his lap. Both have no teeth. It brings out the lighter side of Mahatma.”
Rare occasion
The film also shows the footage of the UN flag going down after Gandhiji’s death. It was a rare occasion, for Gandhiji was not a head of a state. Abhay also worked on Gandhiji’s favourite “Vaishnav Janto” and “Ram Bhajan”. “Again the attempt was to make them sound contemporary without changing the basic format.”
Describing santoor as a secular instrument with deep sounds Abhay feels the instrument has a bright future. “Many youngsters come to my father and me to learn santoor. It is one instrument that can be used for musical therapy. Its sound makes a lot of positive impact on body.” Abhay is soon coming up with a musical album. “The audience will see a different side of me in the album.”
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
