Manpriya Singh

Even off the cuff opinions make for thought-provoking conversations; some times abstract, most times insightful. Wide and varied but all encompassing and well connected, comprising cinema, art, cultural history and of course music. There is so much ground to cover with composer, singer, lyricist, actor, screenwriter, film theorist and editor Madan Gopal Singh. So much so that even a beginning with upcoming projects will take a long long while.

“We’ve done some work in New York, while were there at Woodstock Music Festival,” he shares, while in Chandigarh for a concert organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi in association with Tagore Theatre. An invitation by a recording studio led to an album comprising 15 songs. “It will be out in October and comprises renditions by Kabir, Amir Khusro and my poems.” Then there are lyrics and compositions done for a film, by the makers of Qissa. “I will be in Mumbai next month and there will be at least seven to nine of my compositions.” For one of which voice has been lent by Waheeda Rahman. “She sings melodiously.”

Sufi connect

While popularly associated with Sufi, he is personally not restricted by it. “It is difficult to be Sufi.” Given the liberal use of the word and just as liberal interpretation, it doesn’t appear all that difficult to be Sufi.

“Where are they? I have not seen any lately? If we are taking names, then there is Abida Parveen, who is absolutely rooted. So immersed in soul and someone who has lived intensively.”

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Apart from the intensive travelling lined up for the next two months; what keeps him occupied are the interests that have always been dear.

“Cinema is a passion. Cultural history is a great passion.” So much so, “In fact, if it weren’t for reading, I probably wouldn’t be a singer.”

Music is more than just a platform for rendering some of the deepest felt expressions. “We are the protégé of resistance, the culture of 1960s when with formative influences like Beatles, Bob Dylan and the like. Then in Punjab we have had our troubled times comprising the eighties and nineties. Music is an all-encompassing exercise of trying to invoke from the past verses.”

Encouraging note

As effortlessly as he can list, he can listen to some of the powerful significant names from the world of music. “I listen to everything; Sufi as much as western music. I listen to a lot of music from Pakistan. I feel Coke Studio Pakistan is much better than Coke Studio India.” Any agreement will elicit a counter question because for him, reasons run deep and insightful.

“Coke Studio Pakistan, when they started, they were dealing with a lot of political anxiety and that reflects in their music. I don’t see that expression, reflection of times or anxiety in music from here. It is pleasant but it is not rooted or connected with surroundings.” For that matter, some of the music being dished out in Punjab. “Most of them have a good voice but what do I see, songs being dedicated to jeeps, ammunition and what not. They might be earning a lot of money but they are wasting themselves.”

Well said, if only they were listening. That is not to say all is lost. “I have great faith in today’s generation. We have a lot of enthused singers like Dhruv Sangari,” he signs off on a very positive note.

manpriya@tribunemail.com