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MY KIND OF PLACE -- BHUPINDER SINGH

Between riyaaz, recordings and shows, there’s hardly any scope for holidays. Unlike other jobs, when you are into the world of swar and taal you cannot be stressed out. So all these years I have never had a planned holiday or vacation, or ever sought quietitude. Luckily, music has kept us (his wife Mitali is also a singer) on the move. We have travelled around the country and abroad. But we do not always get a chance to snatch time out of our crammed show schedules to go sight-seeing.

I am naturally drawn towards places rich in arts and culture. I have always looked forward, since early in my career, to visiting Madras and Bhubaneswar. I revel in Madras or Chennai’s traditional ambience. People are warm; there are music schools and dance classes all over, sabhas echo with Carnatic strains and Bharatanatyam steps, temples, hot idlis and dosas, the fragrance of mallipoo…enough to calm minds. Performing in Orissa is pure pleasure as people are steeped in classical arts. I never miss visiting the Konark temple, an architectural marvel.

There’s melody in Nature too. Mountains, rivers, greenery…could actually add depth to your singing. Go out in the open, sing and see the effect for yourself. There are still many who prefer to attend concerts in open air auditorium, sitting under the sky with natural breeze cooling them.

I read a lot about animals and birds. It’s my desire sometime to visit all the wildlife and bird sanctuaries in the country.

The singer spoke to CHITRA SWAMINATHAN

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