My father is my worst critic: Kaushiki Chakraborty

Your thoughts on performing at Mumbai at the Sanskriti festival? 

Mumbai, Pune and several cities in Maharashtra have always been my favourite places to perform. The response I've got from audiences, especially young audiences, is truly inspiring and one is absolutely indebted to them. It is a very humbling to be in Mumbai, where despite the frequency of my concerts, I've only seen the love for me growing. Personally whenever I have been on stage, I get inspired to give my best in front of a responsive audience.

You sing classical, semi-classical, devotional, film songs and world music too. What is the secret of this versatility? 

I've sung in all these genres for my own satisfaction and to satiate my own hunger to experiment and push boundaries. I'm not trying to prove a point to anyone with this... just the urge to grow. One has to enjoy the music irrespective of form/genre. That too me is the secret of anybody's versatility.

Would you attribute ease with genre-switching to riyaz?

What do we mean by riyaz? That's very important. Merely sitting with a tanpura to train in vocal jugglery can't be riyaz. Its all in the mind. One has to mentally align oneself to the form and genre to get it right. My training's taught me two approaches to music – to do music and or to become it. The latter gives you the fluidity to transcend form and become one with it. It becomes an extension of one's expression. This alignment is a very big part of riyaz for you to become successful.

Even while taking on difficult taans /meends one often sees you smiling effortlessly. Is this something you've consciously cultivated as a habit?

(Laughs) Its interesting audiences notice my smile while singing. But isn't ease and effortlessness the point of tayyari? If you struggle you're not ready and need to work on your craft. A sargam/taan shouldn't be a show-off of prowess but a reason for happiness and joy for yourself. I smile while I take a taan because I belong to that musical expression, it belongs to me in that moment and I believe in it.

Do you deliberately try some quick taans or harkat even in lighter, semi-classical pieces or bhajans because of your ease with it?

It is entirely dependent on the song, bhajan and on whether that taan will add something to that composition. This is not about prowess at all. Like when I sing the bhajan in Raga Bhairavi Tum Aa Jaana Bhagwan  I don't try to take even a single taan. But if the song brightens up with swift transitory taan then I take it by all means. Not me, its the composition that takes that call, on whether it wants a certain harkat/taan.

You've been very lucky to have a guru in your dad, Ajoy Chakraborty. Does he still guide you/critique your performances?

A guru's always a guru and a disciple is always one. My father is my worst critic. You know I'd like to put this on record that my father has never complimented any of my performances ever! So his role as guide, guru and my god is to point out my mistakes and help me rectify them so that my music is enhanced. That is the only way to improve and get better. Everytime he feels my focus is shifting he points back to the right path. That has always been the guiding force in my life and I doubt I would have it otherwise.

The mantle of Bollywood singing which rested with Maharashtra for a long time seems to be moving to Bengal with you, Arijit, Shreya, Madhushree and others... 

I don't quite agree. Bollywood has always had its fair share Bengalis. Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar and Manna Dey were all Bengali. And though Shreya (Ghoshal) is a Bengali she's not lived in Bengal. Arijit of course is Bengali. Unlike audiences, musicians/singers don't think of their art from the perspective of where they hail from. Take classical music. There've been so many greats from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Lucknow and Benaras. What matters is the role one plays in the framework of music. A proper evaluation of one's contribution can only be made after one has sung for many, many years. Look at some of the senior legends and their legacy. All of us young artistes, irrespective of where we hail can find so much to learn and emulate.

How long do you spend in riyaz on a given day? 

When I'm travelling its very difficult but when I am at home its a different scene. Given how most musicians have long spells of being unemployed (laughs) all that time can be spent in riyaz. When travelling I try to musically orient myself and settle down to the new place by practising in the afternoons before the concert.

A video of your little son accompanying you on tabla had recently gone viral. Is he also musically inclined or is this pressure from you?

It was revelation to find it go viral. I had no idea that a video made out of motherly affection will reach masses like that. You know that's the environment at home. I'd sent  to some very close family and friends out of love. They in turn shared it with others and before long it reached the internet and went viral. I think its too early for Rishith's video to be out on the net because he is still very very young.

These are just his first baby steps in tabla. Playing well or good and getting appreciated is still some time away. Also just because he is my father's grandson or my son does not in any way mean that he has to take up music at all. As a family there's no such pressure. It all about letting him choose. I'm only seeing it as a happy coincidence that he likes playing the tabla and sing a bit. As a mother, I can only wish all those who've watched the video to bless him so that he finds his path irrespective of whatever he chooses to take up in life.

You're on Twitter. Do you feel its necessary for artists to have a social media presence?

I'm only on Twitter. I realise its necessary for Indian classical musicians to interact on social media because the abiding stereotype likes to think of this genre as belonging to a parallel world and best left there. There seems to be a conscious effort at delineating it from the reality of our lives and musicians are also often shrouded in a mystique of sorts. Therefore it is important to share who you are as a person with audiences so that we make classical music and its practitioners more and more accessible. Unless and until the young generation takes interest things can quickly go downhill for any craft. If that means taking to Twitter or other social media platforms then so be it.

You acted in the late Rituparna Ghosh's Chitrangada five years ago. Any plans of acting in other films/musicals?

(Laughs) I don't think I was really acting. I was on screen singing the song which I had recorded for the film. I only did this because of our extremely close ties with Rituparnada. It is out of question that I will consider acting. Its just not something I could do. I think instead mouthing someone else's lines, (laughs) I'm happy saying what comes to mind in my own words..

Asha Bhosale once said: “jo gawaiya woh khawaiya” while talking of her love of cooking. Is this is true of you too? 

I am both a foodie and love to cook. And going by the feedback from friends and family I think I'm pretty decent at it. I cook all kinds of cuisine Bengali, Maharashtrian, Thai, Mexican. I particularly love to bake and grill. I find it very relaxing and a great way to unwind after a busy day.

Among contemporary classical vocalists who do you admire and listen to a lot?

I listen to a lot of Rashid Kakoo (Ustad Rashid Khan), Begum Parveen Sultana and often listen to the late Shobha Gurtu who I'm an absolute fan of. I like listening to Venkatesh Kumar, Jayteerth Mevundi. I am also a huge fan of Ghaulam Ali, Jagjit Singh and of course Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsale. These are gods and goddesses every Indian knows. I've also grown up listening to them and worshipping them. I've been very very fortunate to meet many of them and recieve their love and blessings.

And among those who sing for films?

I listen to a lot of Shreya, Arijit Shilpa Rao and Shweta Mohan whose voice I really love. I listen to Karthik from Chennai. I love KK's voice. Any names left out does not mean I don't like/listen to them. But these were top of my mind.

Should artistes speak up on social issues? Is there an issue you feel very strongly about? 

Yes I think not only artistes but everyone needs to speak up about social issues. While there should be no pressure to speak on everything, artistes should bear in mind that when they speak up they influence admirers/fans too. I feel inclusion of music in school curricula is very dear to my heart. Children should be trained to appreciate our rich tradition of music from early on. I feel ashamed when a child can't differentiate between the sitar and tanpura.