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"Fifty years ago I was to perform in Madras. I had no
singer, so I requested the great Balasaraswati ji who sang a Tillana,
and what happened was sheer magic! I caught in my mind the basic format
of the composition’s rhythmic pattern like one captures movement of the
rays of the shining sun in abstract air. So I performed Kathak on
Carnatic music and rhythm. Ever since, I have, on several occasions
filled in as an accompanist on percussion with various South Indian
performers and worked simultaneously with multi classical gurus like
Kuchipudi master Vempati Chinna Satyam..." (Birju Maharaj in 'Birju Maharaj in step with nature' by Navina Jafa, The Hindu Friday Review, Feb 16, 2018) |
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"Once, Aminuddin Dagar and I were working on the epic
poem of Kalidas 'Kumar Sambhava', as a dance drama. Parvati was supposed
to be walking to venerate her Lord Shiva who sat on the other side of
the stage. Dagar Sahab began to sing Dhrupad, and as you know the
devotional resonance of the genre evolves in really slow rhythm, I
hesitated and then told him, 'Dagar Sahab, if this is the pace in which
you will sing, then Parvati will never reach, and Shiva will fall
asleep.' Dagar Sahab immediately increased the pace.” (Birju Maharaj in 'Birju Maharaj in step with nature' by Navina Jafa, The Hindu Friday Review, Feb 16, 2018) |
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