How did you stumble across Baul music?
Growing up, I had been familiar with Rabindra Sangeet. But I came to know of Baul only during my time at Shantiniketan. I saw several performances there and it greatly influenced me. I wanted to learn. Another aspect of Baul music that deeply influenced me was the singers' ability to craft spontaneous songs that reflected their rebellious spirit. This experience sparked a desire within me to learn Bengali. I also wanted to read Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali in its original form. I also had a great passion for playing traditional instruments like the ektara, gomukh, and dotara.
What languages are you fluent in?
Tamil, Bengali, Hindi, English, Malayalam, Urdu, Odiya, Marathi. I have done a drama in Marathi.
Having been exposed to the cultural scenes of many states, how do you perceive the cultural scene of Kerala in comparison?
I don't perceive Kerala's cultural scene as being particularly profound. The cultural activism in Kerala seems somewhat superficial.
This story is from the December 20, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Kochi.
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This story is from the December 20, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Kochi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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