Rahul Sharma: Guru can spot the talent but music has to come naturally

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 16:  Santoor as an instrument is synonymous with Sufism, which has deep stripes in the Jammu and Kashmir more so in the Kashmir region, where ironically the stripes have weathered to some extent. It was seen more as an accompanying instrument and lived in the shadows for quite large period.  It was given  its own individuality and even international recognition by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, who come from Jammu.
His father Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma an accomplished artist in himself was also a music teacher of Dr Karan Singh. Now, their third generation, Rahul Sharma, son of Shiv Kumar Sharma, is not only carrying  forward this musical legacy but has even transcended and explored the musical boundaries in the process. Click here to watch video
“Music has to come naturally to you,” Rahul told Excelsior in an interview.  He performed recently in Jammu , which incidentally was his first performance in his home town.
In his musical journey, which started at the age of 12 and came to the stage  when he reached 22, there have been many Wah Taj!  moments in the process.
“I performed at the stage when I reached 22 …there was some kind of anxiety people. I had to live up to expectation of the people and the standards set out by father…If I am torch bearer of  this legacy, I have to learn it more deep,” he said.
Pandit Shiv Kumar, to an extent, single-handedly brought the recognition to this instrument, in a long arduous musical journey. Rahul starting from higher pedestal- in term of the recognition of an instrument, has take it to the international audience. He did an album with Richard Clayderman, the world’s highest paid  pianist, which was one of best selling international album  and also with the multiple Grammy award winner Kenny G.
He doesn’t subscribe  to the theory that fusion can in a sense fiddle with the purity of the music. “I did fusion with Deep Forest, a world renowned French group, a hard core electronica. But, it went off quite well,” he said.  He says playing with different artists of different genres was not only a humbling experience but also a journey to understand and explore the musical facets.
Even if the music was quite natural to him, but like in any other faculty, the continuous practice and grinding continue to be the corner stone of musical journey. “Though I don’t practice much before the concert but I had done it in a quite strenuous way too and that is now like a bank balance,” he said,
He has composed film music and is still open to it.   Rahul, acknowledges that classical scene in the Jammu is missing, and it’s bit ironical that has roots here. ” I can’t comment much as I myself did my first concert here.  It was like breaking the ice and I made it a point to come and perform here and would continue to do my bidding in future too,” he said.
“The classical scene in Jammu can improve a lot. The people are hungry but they are not getting it.  More grants for such concerts be given so that  more youngsters come here. They too love it. Hope it takes off from here,” he said.

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