Kamal Sabri, son of renowned sarangi legend Ustad Sabri Khan has been reinventing the bowing instrument for quite some years and at the same time, maintaining the rich legacy of the Sania gharana of Moradabad considered as one of the most important gharanas for sarangi players.
Sabri started playing the sarangi when he was five and recorded for radio when he was just nine. Apparently, it was his exposure to radio that pushed him to break the perceptions that surrounded his principle instrument and compelled him to innovate and contemporise.
Over the years, Sabri has been delivering powerful ambient scores for documentary films such as The Big Question and has composed for the Indian Contemporary Music Orchestra – a one of its kind fusion between Indian musicians and the famed Vienna Chamber Orchestra.
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The way the sarangi is being played is certainly changing. Read on as the affable musician speaks to Radioandmusic.com’s Chirag Sutar about his approach, musical challenges and his latest offering – Sarangi Funk.
What motivated you to contemporise the sarangi?
In Indian films, every time a tragic scene would come on, one could hear the sarangi almost predominantly that gave most of the listeners the perception that the sarangi is a â€?sad’ instrument. The scenario on radio stations was no different whenever some minister would expire, sarangi players were asked to play. I felt this was just one aspect (of sarangi) which was exposed too much and certainly, the sarangi is not played in Indian classical music just to express sadness – it can express much more. I wanted to do something different – play the sarangi for happy moments, sad moments and even over thumping dance beats – that is what I have done in â€?Sarangi Funk’.
What was your father’s opinion on contemporising the sound of the instrument?
I discussed the album and concept with my father and he too believes that music should move according to the times. I have received accolades for playing the sarangi in a classical way too, so the second step for me was to make the sarangi popular among the masses. I am taking the second step with this album. The first step was my album â€?Dance of the desert’ which was released in 2006.
Was it challenging to club different genres and styles, considering the fact that the instrument you play has never been re-invented?
Yes, it was – it took me two years to do this. I come from a traditional music family and I didn’t want to do something which would degrade my caliber as a musician or degrade the lineage that I come from. I have to maintain my dignity , my family tradition , I didn’t want to dilute my tradition. But at the same time, I wanted to do something which would take my dignity up.
In this album, I have introduced a funky way of playing the sarangi – a style which requires a lot of energy – hopefully, listeners will enjoy it.
Tell me about your future projects?
I am planning to do an album with U Rajesh (Mandolin maestro, U Srinivas’ brother), Pete Lockette and Norwegian saxophone player Bendik Hofseth. Besides this, I am working on an album titled â€?Bollywood Boulevard’ which would be released under Univeral Records – Italy. I had earlier composed for an Italian film by the same title.
Would you be going on road to promote this album?
Yes, I am going to do a tour around September-October and also planning to set up a tour in Europe around next year.
