PUNE: After
Kaushiki Chakraborty finished her scintillating performance at the 65th
Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav and had to be whisked off the stage due to the autograph-seekers surrounding her, she perhaps got a sense of her standing in the world of Indian classical music — she is one of the stars.
In a short chat with reporters after her performance, she was asked whether she considers fame is a responsibility or motivation. She exulted in jest and said that her "stardom" is a motivating factor in her music career. "Yes, I am a star," she laughed, "On a serious note, being a star is a responsibility that motivates me to do better. Never have I felt that being famous could be a responsibility, which has bogged me down."
Chakraborty was gracing the Sawai stage after more than a decade. This is a festival where her father
Pandit Ajay Chakraborty has also been a popular as well as critically-acclaimed performer. "My father would constantly tell me about the audience at Sawai and how appreciative they are of good Indian classical music. So it's ofcourse good to come back to this stage," she added.
Like her father, she too interacts with a number of youngsters looking to carve out a career in Indian classical music. Unlike the doomsdayers, who claim that classical music among young people is on its last legs, she takes a different point of view. "Youngsters are very enthusiastic about classical music. They have the dedication and they certainly do have the passion. They need guidance in this field so that they can achieve something meaningful in the future. Otherwise, the future for Indian classical music is indeed bright," Chakraborty remarked.
Like others in recent times, Chakraborty has also dipped her toe in popular music, creating albums, featuring on film soundtracks. She is even part of an all-women band. She has released singles in collaboration with select artistes. Chakraborty noted that the number of actual albums released by singers is on the wane while the focus is on singles.
