Looking back, looking forward

Last year, Asha Bhosle enthralled a whole new generation of music lovers with Janam Samjha Karo, proving that age was no barrier for being creatively active.

An artiste should never be shackled by bias, misplaced convictions and myopic outlooks. This is how most creative people tend to decline, by refusing to look forward.

For, the past, no matter how golden, simply won’t return. And we should be thankful to this law of nature, which endorses change, prevents stagnancy and helps us get rid of the thorns which are inseparably attached to the flowers called history.

All praise therefore, is due to veteran singer Mahendra Kapoor, the real-life grandpop who has cut a grand pop album. Instead of sitting at home and mooning over the changes in trends he has gone out and recorded a pop album. He had told me long ago, Umar se to awaaz aur bhi jawaan hoti hai!. He has proved his point tellingly in Aakh Lad Gayi.

Instead of sitting at home and mooning over the changes in trends he has gone out and recorded a pop album

With this Punjabi folk alubm, Mahendra Kapoor has indeed taken a bold step for someone of his generation. He has successfully managed a tightrope walk between modern trends (Jad koyal boli is almost Daler-ian in its youthful exuberance) and his inherent melodious style which is best exemplified by the desh-bhakti-suffused love song, Chhitiye kabutra. The rhythms are very ’90s, the melodies very strong as befits his training and forte, and the lyrics fluffy but not the usual ‘pop’pycock.

Except for the fact that he is leagues ahead in his vocal expertise, Kapoor sounds as young as any of the many youngsters coming out with the such albums, and those unfamiliar to date with his voice will find it difficult to believe that this is a 60-plus singer at work.

But the most notable feature of this album is that Kapoor has taken full advantage of his seniority to produce an album which inculcates even a qawwali and a wedding song amidst the foottappers. In other words, he has also grabbed the opportunity to elevate the tastes of his listeners.

Last year, Asha Bhosle achieved a similar feat with her Janam Samjha Karo, and if veteran Majrooh Sultanpuri is to be believed, she only agreed to do the album if he wrote lyrics for it. Inspired, the 80-ish Majrooh wrote that potent elixir on young love Raat shabnami and other lovely tracks.

Anand Bakshi, whose pen gets younger and more forceful with time, is writing lyrics for two pop albums, one of which is with composer Raju Singh. And I see no reason why our other veterans who are in retirement, like Hasrat Jaipuri, Neeraj, Verma Malik and even Kaifi Azmi should not contribute to elevate the calibre of Indipop.

Anand Bakshi, whose pen gets younger and more forceful with time, is writing lyrics for two pop albums.

For, with their vast experience and long innings in the field of the real Indian pop - Hindi film music - they can set new standards to which the genuine new talents can aspire, and help weed out the charlatans who have joined the gold rush. All that is needed from them is a healthy attitude. Of course, the music companies should also give them the right incentives.

And if you ask me, Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey should cut pop albums, too. I am sure that had they been around today, Rafisaab and Kishoreda would have done exactly that!