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(This story was first published on 1 March 2016 and is being reposted from The Quint’s archives to mark the birthday of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.)
Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, who has enthralled audiences all across the globe with his mellifluous music, is concerned that people are today more interested in fusion than pure classical music.
Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan mesmerised the audience with their soulful performance at the recently concluded WSSF, which saw a confluence of global musical exponents showcasing traditions from the Orient, the East and Africa.
“Even my sons are invited for fusion shows but they respectfully decline saying that they would perform only if people would want to listen to the sarod,” said the father, who has impressed music aficionados for years with his innovation of complex ragas.
The 70-year-old musician, who has performed internationally for over four decades, doesn’t want to blame the audience if they are not able to connect with the instrument. The Padma Vibhushan awardee asserted:
He also lamented that despite adapting “so much from the British”, India hasn’t been able to “produce a symphony orchestra like theirs on both national and international levels”.
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