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TAKE TWO

Mystic music, rustic charm

The Wadali Brothers Puran Chand and Piare Lal are no longer afraid a mike will suck out their voices. But they remain in awe of their gurus

PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY

SIMPLICITY TOUCHES The Wadali duo Puran Chand and Piare Lal may have global reach, but they love to live in their ancestral village Guru Di Wadali

They sing as one voice. So much so that often it is difficult to distinguish between the two voices when they are in tandem. The sheer purity of their swaras is at once mesmerising and calming - no matter what they choose to sing - be it Sufiana kalam, kafis, tappas, traditional compositions, albeit all with a classical base. As their voices touch the higher octaves with effortless ease, one can't help but stop and listen. Yet success has not spoilt them, for they still retain the rustic charm and simplicity of their rural roots - as does their music. Their philosophical bent coming across in their exquisitely wise similes that are inextricably linked to the rich multi-lingual heritage of the region.

Alka Raghuvanshi initiates a conversation between the Wadali duo - Puran Chand and Piare Lal - and listens in as they go down memory lane in their native tongue about their life, times and music.

Puran Chand You remember that I had no inclination towards singing? When our Bauji (father) used to insist I sing, I used to hate it! He would pull me by the hair, and one day I got fed up and took a rupee from ma (mother) and went and chopped off my hair!

Piare Lal: But despite your disinterest, father did teach you! And thank heavens for it, or else how would I have learnt?

Puran Chand I remember how Bauji used to dress me up as baby Krishna, but all I would want to do is to play with the boys! But by the time I started liking it, Guru Mastan Shah asked me to take off my ghungroos permanently. It was huge blow for Bauji. But I was happy!

Piare Lal But what did you really want to become? I was so small when you were already a young man!

Puran Chand It was pehelwani all the way for me! But now I tell myself that singing too is like pehelwani!

Piare Lal When people ask me to sing `Sufi' music, I tell them that it is a misnomer to call it Sufi music. The singer is a sufi and not the music. It is the baani of a faqueer, who acts like the trigger point of setting the curd.

Puran Chand Milk, curd, butter, ghee - these are all levels of purity of the soul as it inches towards becoming pure like ghee! There is a saying in Punjabi - jo haad tappe aulia, behaad tappe peer, jo haad behaad tappe, odda naam faqueer! Signifying the various levels of attainment of purity of the soul's journey. That is why I can never tell beforehand what I am going to sing on stage. Whatever is His hukam (order), I sing.

Piare Lal People find it hard to believe we know our entire repertoire by heart. We are completely illiterate, so in any case there is no question of reading the words to remember them.

Puran Chand I remember what Bauji used to say, the words should be such an intrinsic part of you that none should be able to remove them from your tongue. That is why I would sit at the feet of the ustads to learn the correct pronunciation of the words! Such a journey it has been from a reluctant singer to an avid singer!

Piare Lal But have you seen what is being sung these days in the name of pop music?

Puran Chand This sudden interest in all this pop type of music is like phuljharis or firecrackers - it will burn bright only momentarily. Our traditional music is like a simmering incense, which once lit, lingers, and its fragrance lingers for even longer.

Piare Lal It is only aankh rasa or eye tonic! Earlier music was meant for the ears and the soul. Music has deteriorated to such an extent that it is impossible to see and hear with the family.

Puran Chand Earlier only the nautch girls or kanjaris and men dressed up as women used to perform in public. I recall when we were growing up, singers at melas mesmerised me! It was then I started taking my music seriously. Sometimes all this adulation we get from the people makes me think I am in a trance! I began with singing qawwali. Remember how we were auditioned at the All India Radio, by some experts who heard me at the Harballabh chowki?

Piare Lal And also continued to remain B grade artistes for 20 years! And got higher ranking only after we got the Padma Shri! But in those early years I remember how we used to be petrified of the mike, believing it would suck out our voice from our throat! The producer would position the mike and we would want to sing from as far as possible from the mike!

Puran Chand So many times I am asked, just as I am sure you must too be, why do you persist in living in your village Guru Di Wadali (literally, the village of the gurus)? I tell them - today if we leave them, what if they leave us tomorrow?

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