EVOLUTION OF
INDIAN MUSIC
By Caldeo Sookram
Express
Section 2
January 1, 2000
Page 31
Indian indentured labourers coming to Trinidad from 1845 brought with
them musical instruments and traditions of India. Most of them had come from Indian villages and none were stars in
the arena of song, music and dance.
At
the turn of the century a mere handful of singers were making a name for themselves.
These included Phiramat, Imami, Deoki Singh, Badloo Rai, Sultan Khan,
Ali Jan and Bel Bagai. They were not great artistes but they kept
the art form alive by traveling around and giving a fine exhibition of their
skills in song and music.
Soon,
Fakeer Mohammed, one of the masters of music and dance in the early part of
this century arrived. Mohammed along
with Alice Jan and his Indra Sabha dance drama were soon a sensation with shows
around the country, thrilling audiences wherever they performed. Mohammed also introduced the first harmonium
in his shows.
In
India, meanwhile, classical music continued in its noble tradition with the
masters of the raga, and exponents of the sitar, sarod and tabla, maintaining a
high standard of craftsmanship.
However, the arrival of cinema and Hindi film music changed the entire
landscape of Indian music.
The
first film Alam Ara (Beauty of the World) in 1931 featured songs and
music and was incidentally the first film with sound coming out of the era of
silent movies. The arrival of the film Bala
Joban in 1935 in Trinidad changed the form of entertainment among the
Indian population.
People
were now visiting cinema houses regularly.
Returning home, they talked about the movies, the stars, the story, the
music and songs, which they hummed daily.
Their lifestyles were influenced by what they now saw on the silver
screen.
Some
of the characteristics of Indian film music and song compel attention. It is popular music with mass appeal. And it has been influenced by many styles
and genres of music both Indian and foreign.
Taking a note from folk, classical, devotional and even Western artistes
like Mozart, the Beatles, Elvis Presley and Ras Shorty I, Indian music is the
one single art form that brings Indians together.
The
introduction of Western musical instruments has also added that extra touch to
the sweet melodies of composers and singers.
Credit for taking this bold step goes to maestro Naushad Ali, who has
given Indian music many decades of golden melodies.
Notable
pioneers in India responsible for the production of Hindi film music were
Himansu Rai of the Bombay Talkies (1934), and BN Sircar of New Theatres in
Calcutta (1930).
These
companies gave stardom to singers, musicians, technicians and film stars. Popular singers and musicians of that period
include KL Saigal, Pankaj Mullick, KC Dey, Anil Biswas, Raichand Boral and
Saraswati Devi. But it was Anil Biswas who created the first orchestra for the
Hindi film music.
The
people in India embraced this new form of entertainment. And in Trinidad, the Indian folks readily
took the opportunity to savour what India had to offer. In the 1920s and 30s there were no
television and radio. The establishment
of the first radio station - Radio Trinidad in 1947 with Kamaluddin Mohammed as
principal broadcaster of Indian music brought melodies to many homes of music
enthusiasts.
New
singers from India were now making waves on the musical scene. Popular stars had arrived. Shamshad Begum, Suriya, Lata Mangeshkar,
Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh Chand Mathur and Kishore Kumar established a
new order for a new generation of fans.
And their visits to Trinidad for concerts fulfilled a life-long wish by
fans to see in person the singers whose voices they have always heard. The establishment of the first Indian
orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago in 1944 - the Naya Zamana Orchestra - led by
Nazeer Mohammed paved the way for others to follow.
Competitions
were held featuring the songs of these famous Indian singers - the Junglee song
contest (1962), the Ayee Milan Ki Bela song contest (1965) and Mohammed Rafi's
Arzoo songs contest (1966).
Scholarships granted by the Indian Government to local artistes to study
music and dance have helped in lifting the level of professionalism in
classical styles.
The
arrival of television in 1962 and the introduction of Mastana Bahar in
1970 established a forum for Indian culture in Trinidad of unequal magnitude
and grandeur. Many artistes have
graduated from this stage to launch careers in music. The first Mastana Bahar winner in 1970, Parvati Khan, is now a
singing star in India. And more recently
local Indian singers Nadia Madhoo and Shiva Lakhan have won top prizes singing
the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey.
The
era of local Indian classical music with stalwarts like randhanie Sharma, James
Ramsewak, Jhagroo Quawal, Ramcharitar, Taran Persad and others soon faded into
oblivion. The "film thing"
ruled the day.
While
new stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and singers Udit Narayan and Alka
Yagnick continue to thrill fans in India and in Trinidad, a new brand of
singing and dancing - Chutney - has taken over the stage.
Chutney
has hit the international scene, and its exponents like the late Sister
Drupatee of Suriname and local star Sundar Popo, have led the way in
compositions and styles. What is
significant, though, is how the "purists" pour contempt on these
"chutney things", while the thousands just love it. The same can be said of the film songs and
music. Millions around the world adore
these film personalities, while a concert in Trinidad a few years ago by
Pakistan's king of gazal Mehdi Hassan attracted only a few people.