HYDERABAD: “I was about four-and-a-half years old when I lost my father. I did not get the chance to serve him,” says legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj, explaining the reason behind him starting the Pandit Motiram Pandit Manram Sangeet Samaroh. This samaroh has been taking place in Hyderabad since the last 34 years, as a tribute to Pt Motiram, father of Pt Jasraj.
“All that I got as inheritance from my father were the seven notations and today they have become like a rainbow to me, which means more than any award or recognition I can get,” the legend says talking about his father and his importance in the pandit’s life. The samaroh is also a tribute to Pt Jasraj’s guru, his mentor and his elder brother, Pt Maniram.
“My brother taught me all the music that I know today, and it is because of him that I am whatever I am today. After his death in 1986, I renamed the samaroh to add his name as well.” This samaroh had been taking place in Nizam College grounds since the last 34 years, but the venue was changed this year to Chowmahalla Palace due to unavailability of the Nizam College venue.
But Pt. Jasraj seems to be happier with the new venue as he looks at it as a dream he is fulfilling finally. “The day my father died, he was going to perform at Chowmahalla Palace, but he died just five hours before the programme. It took me 75 years to cover those five hours and come back to Chowmahalla Palace. The interesting part is that it was Maharaja Kishan Prasad Bahadur who took my father to Chowmahalla Palace and now it is G Kishan Rao (Director, Chowmahalla Palace) who is taking me. I think we have some connection with the name Kishan or it is just that (Lord) Krishna is happy with us,” he jokes adding that Hyderabad was an obvious choice for the tribute as it was his father’s “karma bhoomi and his antim bhoomi”.
This is one festival where young and not-so-known talent is introduced to the audience. “I get those people who are worth the stage,” says Pt Jasraj adding that he does not follow any strict procedure of selection, but follows whatever his heart and mind tell him. “There was a point of time when no one knew me.
Someone introduced me and made me what I am today, and I am doing the same.” Talking about the difference in a studio recording and performing in front of a live audience, the legend says that he prefers a live audience. “Stage matters more than an album. If you ask any artist, they would any day prefer a live audience as they get to see the audience reaction.
I believe that every person has God in him and if I get to perform in front of the God, why would I not want that,” he questions.
On his future plans, Pt Jasraj says he would be going to South Africa in February on a musical tour.
“I am creating an audience outside for the future generation. The credit of spreading vocal music outside India goes to Pt Jasraj,” he says, adding that he has five institutes running under his name in the US.
