Written By: Yashaswi KocharMahesh Kale, one of Indian classical music’s most celebrated vocalists, was in Ahmedabad for Abhangwari, a thoughtfully curated concert of devotional poetry dedicated to Lord Vitthal. Asked about his favourite memory of Gujarat, the singer, who won the National Film Award for Aruni Kirani from the Marathi film Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (2016), laughs, “My biggest memory of Gujarat is my wife.”‘I want people to discover Indian instruments’Talking about fusing Western and classical music, he says, “Someone asked me, ‘Will you sing classical with a Western symphony?’ because this has never happened in Kanth Sangeet. I love challenges, so I said yes and started working on Infusion (a concert series). It was challenging to communicate because the entire string section was behind me. So, we established a protocol that allowed me to retain the independence that’s so important in classical music, while ensuring they maintained their discipline.”He adds, “If you ask anyone aged 21 or younger if they know the guitar, most will say yes. But ask them about the ravanhatta, and the answer is usually no. I want people to discover Indian instruments too, which is why I work on mixing music. Kabhi kabhi jo cheezein straight line mein nahi hoti hai, unko topsy-turvy karke karna padta hai. That is my aim through Infusion, ki mainhamare shastriya sangeet ki bandishein popular sound mein dhaal du. So, we create a sound that fits the other sounds in the playlist, making it more palpable for the newer generation. When we performed in Pune, some clips of the show went viral on social media. In Goa, people requested us to play those bandishein. I love doing all these experiments.”‘Social media is like a double-edged sword’Talking about the role of social media in music, Mahesh says, “It is the next generation of print media. Social media allows you to sing from anywhere. I find it nice that people are moving beyond geography and democratising content. Social media is a double-edged sword; if you use it as a destination, then it is bad, but if you use it as a tool, then it is good.”Asked about singers who gain short-lived fame via social media, he says, “If you use the fame to do more riyaz and work on your music, then it would be good.”‘The younger generation is less frugal’Talking about the growing demand for live music, he says, “The younger generation is less frugal. They’re willing to spend money on a meaningful experience. Improved infrastructure has also played a key role in helping the live music scene flourish. Also, if I’m performing, I want to look my best. That doesn’t mean wearing makeup, but ensuring there’s good lighting, quality microphones, and everything else that enhances the overall performance.”‘I love to share and teach music’Mahesh, who teaches music three times a week, says, “I love teaching. When I love something, I naturally want to share it with others—and that’s what music is to me. During the pandemic, I realised that music is one thing that’s always there for you. The pandemic gave me ample time and opportunity to open a music school. Very few things give you simple, scalable, sustainable joy. The more time you spend with music, the better it gets. You just have to invest your time.”Talking about Indian Classical Music and Arts (ICMA) Foundation, a non-profit organisation, he says, “It started with the intention of representing Indian music in the cultural experiential context. We come across many talented children who lack the resources to pursue music seriously. So, we musically adopt them by providing a stipend, enabling them to focus on their training and continue their musical journey.”‘AI merely generates responses to your prompts’Asked about the use of AI in music, Mahesh says, “We give prompts to AI, isn’t it? Then why is everyone blaming AI? AI merely generates responses to your prompts. The moral responsibility for those prompts rests with you. This is not the first time any technology has been leveraged. With every change, some people will leverage it, while some will be scared. If people use it to serve art, art will flourish. If they use it only for money, they’ll just earn more money.”
