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Rhythm and roots
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Madhukar Chandra Dhas pays an Indianised tribute to his musical inspiration, The Beatles
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Music, his life: Madhukar Chandra Dhas. Pic. by V. Ganesan
SOMEONE ONCE said that music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. The moments spent with a voice from the almost too distant past did just that. It began all too innocuously "Hey do you want to meet the original Jesus Christ Super Star - the legend that was!" Oh yes, who among the Indian Woodstock generation has not sighed over the tall, dark, bad-boy, Judas-wannabe-turned-good Madhukar Chandra Dhas.
Back in India, after going `across the universe' in search of his rock and roll soul, for a much awaited reunion with members of the famous Alyque Padamsee production of "Jesus Christ Super Star," the Big Dooker ("sounds a whole deal better than Mad Hooker") took time off to revisit his favourite haunts and catch up with his old buddies (members of the rock band Voodoos) in his native Chennai and promote his CD titled "To the `Fab Four' from Liverpool — a tribute from India."
The Fab Four
Why the Fab Four, why this `Indianised' tribute and why now? The Beatles had such a stirring influence on this school-going "nerd with a violin" that Madooo (not a typo!) remembers even today the wonderful sense of anticipation as he waited in a queue in his boarding school to listen to his record of "Twist and Shout." "I have to give back to the Beatles for the myriad hours of pleasure they gave me," he says. The result was this CD with its intricate circular design on the cover, an obligatory `Om' in the center evoking the Indian connection of the legendary band.
All the arrangements for the 16 compositions on this `tribute' are by Madooo, who has also provided the vocals. They range from the haunting "Norwegian Woods" to the raunchy "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da" through old favourites like "Across The Universe" and "Love Me Do." Straddling two worlds, these songs have been deliberately chosen for their `Indianness,' which has been further enhanced by Madooo using Indian instruments as a measure of his tribute to John, Paul, George and Ringo.
"Hey you! Would you help me to carry the stone, Open your heart, I'm coming home," you seem to hear Madooo cry with Pink Floyd, who along with Jethro Tull and Joe Crocker, was as the other major musical influence on his life.
Return to roots
There is a touching naiveté about the black leather clad figure one chanced upon on a rare wet evening in Chennai, strumming a guitar and singing to a group of friends. So why return to the native shores now? After all, he was a graphic designer with Deutch advertising in New York ("I love life there!") successfully combining the two great loves — music and art — for over two decades. But then came a wake up call. "Hey You! Don't help them to bury the light! Don't give in without a fight!" Yearning for a second coming, the chance to do it right on his native soil or simply a search for roots...
CHITRA KRISHNAN
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