Change is a constant phenomenon and Hindustani Classical Music is a living example of how the "classicalness" of music has changed over centuries .. initially from Dhrupad to Khayal , imbibing the folk tunes into the classicalness, new rhythms and thekas , newer forms of "light classical music" in the form of thumris , tappas , gazals and bhajans into the concerts of Indian ( Hindustani ) Classical Music.
As a "Punekar" , every December, over last 20 plus years ,I have witnessed this changing form and face in Pune's very own , the world famous festival of classical music , popularly known as "Sawai". The change is pronounced in last 4-5 years. With the advent of social media , penetration of mobile internet to every nook and corner, cheap internet access and more so , WhatsApp which had immense effect on music / music industry and especially Hindustani Classical Music
This blog post is a continuation of the thought process that was initiated in Dec 2018 through the blog : Classicalness Vs Massicalness - A story of Hindustani Classical Music
As I ponder over the basic idea behind starting such festivals like Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav in 1950s , I realize a grim fact that forced musicians to initiate such "marketing" tricks to attract more audience and patrons for the Hindustani Classical Music ! Most of these Classical Music festivals in India were started by musicians themselves to make Classical Music more "accessible" and "popular" among general masses. The gharana gayaki of classical music was limited to "Darbars" and concerts of Princely states until the freedom of India around 1950. Infact , these princely states were instrumental in the growth of gharana gayaki and were the main patrons of all the classical musicians. The rebirth of Jaipur and Kirana gayaki could be attributed to the patronage of princely states of Kolhapur and Mysore respectively.
With the fall of princely states the patronage was lost and these musicians , had to find newer audience to appreciate and pay for their art. Their livelihood was at stake. The emergence of "Natya Sangit" in Maharashtra could be attributed to this initiative to bring classical music near the masses through light classical compositions in dramas ( Natya). The emergence of Gandharva Sangit Mahavidyala to promote classical music was one such step. Active initiatives were taken by various Pandits and Ustads to make classical music appealing to masses , by sometimes diluting it. Pure form of Classical music concerts became rare and each classical music concert was inter-spread with some light classical compositions like thumris , tappas , natya sangit , gazals , qawwalis etc , for commercial reasons.
This lead to disappearance of pure classical genre like the old Jaipur gayaki ( based on three schools of Dhrupad ) and the Dhrupad itself from the concert scene.
The Hindustani classical music is like a flowing river, constantly changing its form from the Dhrupad ,to Khayal of Amir Khusroo to Modern day Khayal of Gharanas to Current mix of Khayal and light classical blend. This transformation is ongoing for ages and the audience is the determining factor that decides the further growth and transformation !
We all connoisseurs are just spectators and unbiased witness to this change and transformation !