IN CONVERSATION
Brothers in music
K. K. GOPALAKRISHNAN
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Dhrupad vocalists Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha on the ancient art form that they are working to preserve.
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Photo: K.K. Goplakrishnan
Veteran Duo: Brilliant performers.
DHRUPAD is an ancient style of Hindustani classical music that has survived in its original form. The nature of Dhrupad is spiritual. For the audience, it induces a feeling of peace and contemplation.
As an art form, Dhrupad is more disciplined and conservative. The Mughal period is considered as the golden era of Dhrupad music.
Development
The word Dhrupad is derived from dhruva, the steadfast evening star, and pada meaning poetry. It is a form of devotional music that traces its origin to the ancient text of Sama Veda. Gradually this developed into other vocal styles called Chanda and Prabandha with the introduction of verse and metre. The fusion of these two elements led to the emergence of Dhrupad. Every gharana of Hindustani music inherited or imbibed some aspects from Dhrupad.
Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha, popularly known as the Gundecha Brothers, are synonymous with Dhrupad. Today they are rated among the most brilliant Dhrupad performers.
Born in Ujjain in Central India, the duo was pushed into music by their parents. "In fact, we do not belong to a musical family. But our father's passion for classical arts landed us in the music field. He always wanted us to be Dhrupad singers," they smile.
The brothers did their M.A. in Hindustani music and "realised that the true essence of our music lies in Dhrupad, which is the oldest classical tradition. So we started learning Dhrupad in 1981, with a general background in Hindustani music since 1969."
The brothers always learned and performed together. Their first formal performance was in May 1985 at the "Uttaradhikar" festival.
Training
Their initiation to Dhrupad was under the renowned vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) in Dhrupad Kendra Bhopal.
The late Keshav Kothari identified them, in 1983, as "promising Dhrupad singers" and later promoted them at the national level. Today they are rated as the best representatives of the Dagar tradition of Dhrupad.
"The Dagars is the most respected family in music world. They have devoted many generations to protect and preserve this most ancient rivulet of music," the duo says reverently. And did the illustrious Dagar brothers inspire them? "Yes, of course. We were very fortunate to hear Ustad Nasir Moinuddian Dagar and Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar several times before our initiation to Dhrupad style."
Is there a reason behind both of them being known as "Gundecha brothers" or did it just happened? "We grew up together right from our childhood and both of us wanted to sing. So the situation was to our benefit."
Differences
How is Dhrupad different from Hindustani music? "The fundamental theory behind both is the same. Dhrupad has a contemplative nature and is a medium of prayer. Khayal came later with a romantic inclination. A long and elaborate alaap has a significant role in unfolding the raga in Dhrupad but not in Khayal. The tabla is the accompanying instrument for Khayal while in Dhrupad it is pakhawaj," they explain. When Dhrupad was evolving, the tabla did not exist. There was only the pakhawaj as a traditional percussion.
Akhilesh Gundecha, their youngest brother and a disciple of Pandit Shrikant Mishra and Raja Chhatrapati Singh Ju Deo, accompanies them on the pakhawaj.
How did he become their accompanist? "He is a post-graduate in vocal music and has a good sense of music and rhythm. But since there were not many pakhawaj players, we thought that he could support us. Above all, it was a good chance for all of us to be together," is the answer.
The future
What do they think of the future of Dhrupad? "It is growing and will keep growing. We see many promising students learning Dhrupad," comment the brothers, adding, "Any art form not keeping up with the times will not sustain itself. When one turns professional and makes a living from concerts, one has to make compromises."
They believe that the stylisation of music is about 100 to 200 years old. "There was a traditional belief that only men should sing Dhrupad in public and that is why there are no female Dhrupad singers; the Dagars were very conservative," they explain.
Breaking this belief, the Gundechas taught six girls and one of them, Amita Sinha Mohapatra, is a promising singer. Dhrupad is also becoming popular in Pakistan through Aliya Rasheed, who is based in Lahore.
Collaborations
Even though they follow an ancient lineage, their collaboration with the trailblazing Indian contemporary dancer, the late Chandralekha, for some of her later innovative choreographies was well known.
"It was a great honour for us to work with Chandralekha. She invited us in 1999 to compose music for her choreography. Her creative urge was immense. We still perform the music of `Sharira' to keep her memory alive," say the brothers.
In 1999, the Gundechas founded a Dhrupad institute in Bhopal, to formally groom a band of disciples.
"At present we have 15 serious students learning Dhrupad full time. We have residential facility in a campus of three-acre land in the out skirts of Bhopal. It is the first gurukul with residential facility for Dhrupad," they say proudly.
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