Six generations into Sitar and a debut at the age of eight, Ustadji Shahit Parvez’s name can be mistaken to be a synonym for the instrument. Ustadji, as fondly referred to by his students, will be in the city to perform at Jashn-e-Deccan on December 17 at Sreenidhi International School.
“I was initiated into music by my grandfather at four years of age with vocal music. In those days, my father used to compose for Bollywood under the stage name of Aziz Hindi. Seeing my interest, talent and for the growth of the gharana, my grandfather got very angry at my father and urged him to focus on teaching Indian classical music. That’s when my father got me a baby sitar and the instrument has become a part of my personality now, says Ustadji.
So how was it to be brought up in a musical family that includes many star performers? “My childhood was not something that a typical toddler would experience. My father was a strict guru. It was clear that Music was not going to be mastered part-time and in that sense it was full time education. My Riyaaz went for 10-12 hours and I would study for an hour a day. Of course, the expectations were that I should come first in my class or else my education will be discontinued. The mere thought of that made me score highest marks in the state. Excelling in Sitar was more important than conventional education for my father,” he says.
Ustadji’s style is gayaki but he is well known for his layakari. We asked him about this contradiction. “Sitar is a solo instrument so by nature it needs a special technique to achieve harmony with human voice and our gharana specialises in that. My training in vocal helped me apply it better. I was also trained in tabla by my uncle, hence layakaari has been an integral part of my playing,” explains Shahidji.
When asked what makes a complete performer, he says “One needs to understand all art forms like painting, poetry etc. That will help a musician comprehend better. In my favourite book, Music, Sufi Inayat Khan sahib says ‘Poetry conveys that which cannot be conveyed by painting and whatever poetry cannot convey that can be conveyed by music.’ In my mind, the balance between emotion and logic two brings out the best in an artiste.”
So, are you a purist? “To experiment, one doesn’t need to leave the base. Beauty lies in holding on to your roots and then expanding your horizon. I listen to all kinds of music and my knowledge of nuances in Bollywood music is comparable to the best. I am working on a tribute album to three of my most favourite playback singers Rafi sahab, Lataji and Ashaji in which I will be playing some of the finest songs sung by them. I have also composed symphonies in Australia.” says the versatile Ustadji
How can one appreciate classical music better? “Music is a universal language. There is nothing to understand; one just needs to feel it. When you like someone, you just feel the emotion, no one needs to explain it. So, if someone says they understand Bollywood or any other form I often ask them what they understand. In fact, I say that they feel they understand because they would have heard it repeatedly, same is the case with classical — just start listening and you will start enjoying it.”
