Mesmerising music lovers with divine music

V L Srinivasan

WHENEVER ace flautist Pandit Ranendranath Majumdar, popularly known as Ronu Majumdar, plays his favourite raagas `Darbari Kanada, Jaijaiwanti or Khamaaj on `Shank Basuri,’ one gets a feeling that it is nothing but the call of divine.


A gifted artiste by the virtue of his extraordinary talent, he has been mesmerising music lovers around the world with his melliflous `Basuri Vaadan’ for the last 32 years.

A product of Maihar Gharana which has produced eminent musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ronuji’s style of presentation is also influenced by Benaras Gharana.

He started learning flute at the age of six and within seven years, he gave his first concert. Since then, there has been no looking back for him and has toured several countries in the last three decades.

In fact, he returned from the United States recently where he was supposed to perform 20 concerts.

But his popularity has been such that he extended his stay by few more days and took part in 28 programmes ! He won several awards to his credit and was widely acclaimed for scoring music for India’s first I-max film Mystic India. Besides, he featured with several international artistes and was nominated to Grammy award in 1996.

His creativity can be guaged by the fact that he is considered innovator of the new age music and is keen on experimenting with the classical music to take it to masses while giving due to respect to its `Pure Form.’ Ronuji, who is in the city to give a series of concerts tells this website's newspaper various issues including his association with Hyderabad. Excerpts.

ASSOCIATION WITH HYDERABAD

I am no stranger to the `City of Pearls’ as I am associated with the music lovers like Mohan Hemmadi of Surmandal for many years. My first programme in Hyderabad was in 1988 which was organised by Surmandal. I have also performed at Taramati Baradari and other venues to promote Indian classical music. I was under the tutelage of my father Dr Bhanu Majumdar, who is my Guru, mentor and Bhagwan. Though he is a medical doctor, his passion for music is unparalleled, he learnt playing flute from the legendary Pannalal Ghosh, who brought recognition to the instrument.

With music part of my family, it was natural that I too was interested and was initiated into the field when I was six and people who heard me at that time described me as a child prodigy.

ON PROPAGATI NG INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

The Government of India should start music schools all over the country to impart certain skills to the younger generation. It helps in their personality development and makes them better persons and keep them away from anti-social activities.

It works as an anti-dote to all ills the society is facing at present and promotes communal harmoney among various communities. In short, it keeps people united and achieves national integration.

ROLE OF CORPORATE SECTOR

In ther past, it was Rajas and Maharajas who patronised the classical music. But today, the corporate houses have the responsibility to keep alive the tradition.

Though some of the big companies have been spending huge sums to promote classical music, I personally feel that the funds are being wasted as it has to be spent by consulting the experts.

The younger generation is exposed to the cultural invasion from the skies and it is only the corporate sector which can stop this and they can play an important role in this aspect. While I could set up Saadhana music school at Chicago in the United States six years ago, I am not able to get land in Mumbai to set up another such similar institution for the benefit of Indian students.

HIS WORKS

I have composed music for Hollywood fim `Primary Colours’ and released several albums like `Heart to Heart, Reverie, Song of Nature, A Travelers Tale - Fusion, Koi Akela Kahan with Kavita Krishnamurthy), Dhyana, Ekatman, Carrying Hope, Fusion Yatra along with Louiz Banks, A collection of 25 Gayatris’ and `Nrityanjali’ for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu dance drama by Dr Tushar Guha. My latest release `Ronu and friends’ has been collection of the programmes of various musicians.

His international albums are; `Fascinoma’ with Ry Cooder & John Hassles, `In Search of Life’ with Christian Seiferd, `Ethereal Rhythms’ and `Mysticism on Wood Wind.’

FUTURE PLANS

I want to invent new Raagas and I already have the combination of notes. But I am in no hurry as I am still working on the emotional elements.