‘My religion is music’, says Begum Parveen Sultana

In Indian classical music, ragas have prescribed timings based on aesthetically compatible moods. Pancham Nishad has been organising morning concerts Pratahswar for the past 13 years. Its 100th edition will see vocalist Begum Parveen Sultana, a doyenne from the Patiala gharana perform. Excerpts:

You are performing at the 100th Pratahaswar concert...

It gives me great joy that I’m performing at this concert. It’s such a great initiative by Pancham Nishad for both artistes and audiences. While we’re happy to present rarely heard morning ragas from our rich classical tradition, audiences mostly exposed to evening ragas because of more evening concerts must also find this rewarding... You must ask Shashi Vyas (of Pancham Nishad) why I was not invited before this (laughs)

Maybe they were saving that for the 100th concert

I don’t stand on ceremony when it comes to a good initiative. Even if they said once I would’ve agreed.

Do you have a favourite among the morning ragas?

Do you ask a mother if she has a favourite among her children? Whether it is Ahir Bhairav, Jogiya, Lalit or Gurjari Todi each morning raga has its own magic. Their soothing and calm melodies are grounded in the lower register (mandra saptak) and their melodic movement is gradual, the rhythmic and tonal intensity increasing with the progress of the morning. Each is a priceless gem.

And which of these will audiences get to hear you sing?

Honestly one can’t plan these things. Often one tries to pick a raga but finally on stage you feel like performing something else. There has to be an element of the impromptu and organic in one’s approach to music, otherwise it becomes too predictable.

You have performed at all night concerts before, do you feel audiences will want to sit through such long concerts now?

While rules on sound systems not being allowed after 10pm affect concerts, I refuse to believe there’s a dearth of discerning listeners. At the Sawai festival, there were over 18,000 people who sat through my concert. Blaming audiences’ short attention span is unfair, artistes need to explore within. If you have a limited range of phrases you’ve worked on and keep singing them for an hour, audiences will get bored.

Have you ever faced discrimination/bigotry?

I consciously stay away from the unmusical and harsh. If I sense any kind of hate/negativity I withdraw and move away. My religion is music. I offer namaz, go to temples, churches, gurudwaras and mosques. At every concert the audience insists on me singing Bhavani Dayani. When I sit with the tanpura and become one with music I can find both Allah and Goddess Saraswati in it.

You have in the past sung for Pakeezah, Do Boond Paani, Kudrat and Gadar Ek Prem Katha. Why haven’t you sung for films since?

Where are the music directors like Naushad, Jaidev or RD Burman who brought out the soul of the lyrics? My first love is classical music and concerts. Music directors who love my singing have approached me and convinced me to sing. I also want the right kind of lyrics, story, situation and filmmaker before accepting anything. Now a 10-minute song has hardly 3-4 minutes of singing, and the remaining is just orchestration and rhythm. That’s not what I want to do.

Are there any classical singers whose work you like?

I am particularly fond of Ashwini Deshpande, Aarti Ankalikar and Devaki Pandit’s singing. The latter is able to bring the sweetness of her semi-classical renditions to her khayal gayaki too.

And any current film singers?

I don’t listen to too many film songs, but I like some of Arijit Singh’s songs.