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‘Music is not a cut-paste job’
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T.V. Gopalakrishnan and Bhupinder Singh on music and the guru-sishya parampara
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Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
Tandem notes T.V. Gopalakrishnan and Bhupinder Singh talk on the importance of a teacher among other things
The guru is the multi-skilled T.V. Gopalakrishnan. Adept in Carnatic and Hindustani vocal styles, he can also play a range of instruments including the mridangam, violin, thavil and saxophone. TVG (as he is fondly referred to) the teacher is a friend
-in-need to his students. Ever-enthusiastic and smiling, his zest for life is infectious. The sishya is Bhupinder Singh, a singer with a hauntingly throaty voice. His superhit numbers of the Seventies and Eighties such as “Dil Dhoondta hai”, “Ek akela is shehar mein”, “Naam ghum jayega”…still stir you. It’s more than a decade since he moved from playback to singing ghazals with pretty wife Mitali. The Take Two was more a friendly chat. CHITRA SWAMINATHAN listens in…
TVG: Beyond rhythm, beyond language, beyond grammar…A great voice makes you forget everything else. Bhupi, it’s unbelievable, you sound the way you did 25 years ago.
Bhupi: It was you who taught me how to improve and preserve my voice. You told me about articulation, improvisation and making proper use of the muscles and space inside the mouth. These exercises have kept my voice intact. Whether I am rehearsing, recording or performing, your advice rings in my ears.
TVG: That’s the ideal way to get the best out of your training. Refer to the mental notes constantly and not let the strain show on your face or singing. Like the way a fine batsman finds the right time and space for a smooth boundary.
Bhupi: Besides individual effort and skill, a coach’s role is vital. His/her suggestions are valuable.
TVG: Teaching needs the same amount of passion and commitment as performing. You need to earn your students’ trust. It’s so gratifying when they later talk about your role in their success.
Bhupi: How easy or difficult is it to groom the know-all youngsters of today?
TVG They are willing to learn and have a quick uptake. But multi-tasking leaves them with little energy and confused. All the same it is fun, they help me connect with today’s world.
Bhupi: What about technology-driven tunes?
TVG: Technology has improved the reach of our arts. Online lessons have attracted many from within the country and outside to learn classical music. But the computer shouldn’t rob your identity. Music is not a copy-paste job.
Bhupi: I remember how Pancham (R.D. Burman) changed the way Hindi film music sounded with his innovative techniques. During my initial days I used to hang out with him. Then he was an aspiring music composer. Our friendship developed into a working relationship and resulted in many memorable numbers. Similarly, I cherish the day when Ilaiyaraja-ji introduced me to you. Though we have hardly met a few times over the years, I feel very close to you. Hope it’s the same with you too, guruji. (laughs)
TVG: You don’t need to meet everyday to bond well. Music bridges time and distance (smiles). Coming back to your singing, it must have been tough having stalwarts such as Rafi, Kishore, Manna Dey and Talat Mehmood for contemporaries.
Bhupi: Oh, yes. Rock solid voices that are a favourite of music-lovers even today. But they were such simple human beings. Otherwise how could have I rendered that debut song of mine from Haqeeqat, “Hoke majboor usne mujhe bhulaya hoga…” with Rafisaab around. Madan Mohanji offered me the song after listening to me on the radio. I used to work at AIR Delhi. Though the song was a hit it didn’t do much to my playback singing career.
TVG: Like me, you too play many instruments. Haven’t you played the guitar for some top music directors?
Bhupi: I have worked mostly with Pancham. It was wonderful to strum the guitar for songs such as “Dum maro dum”, “Chura liya” and “Mehbooba mehbooba”.
TVG: What do you think of the songs now?
Bhupi: No complaints, there are many hummable numbers. In the Nineties, I took to ghazals full time. The journey continues.
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Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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