String theory

 

 

 

“This is the city I love,” says Los Angeles-based sitar maestro Nishat Khan, as he walks down the Marine Drive promenade, answering questions and posing for pictures while creating a little bit of magic with Raag Bhairavi. “No matter where in the world I am,” he says, “my heart always stays behind in Mumbai.”

 

Currently in the city for a private performance, the Ustad, whose father Ustad Imrat Khan and uncle Ustad Vilayat Khan are undisputed giants of Indian classical music, was honoured by the US Congress in August this year for his contribution to music and culture.

 

“It is a huge responsibility to live up to the family name,” he candidly admits. “But I do the best I can — I owe it to my ancestors, and to music.”

 

Khan grew up in Mumbai, and therefore makes it a point to come back to the city at least twice a year. His biggest pull? Movies and Amitabh Bachchan. “I have grown up on Hindi films,” he says. “I watch a lot of world cinema, but there is nothing to beat Hindi films with their song and dance rituals.” He recently watched Paheli, India’s entry to the Oscars, and Parineeta, the Saif Ali Khan-Vidya Balan-Sanjay Dutt starrer.

 

And the one thing he really hates? Don’t even mention remix albums — he just might explode through his gentle visage. “Youngsters these days adopt a frivolous attitude — they dismiss art and culture as heavy or boring,” he says, adding that the onus of making classical forms accessible to the new generation lies with performers.

 

Surely, he would be the happiest if things changed soon.

 

 

 

 

Vidya Prabhu
 
It might have been a good seven years since he first came to India as part of the band Boyzone, but Ronan Keating clearly recalls his visit. “We were overwhelmed by Bangalore’s response then, and I am touched by the kind of welcome I have received in Mumbai this time,” says Keating. When asked about Bollywood, he says, “Indian films are really popular in the UK. But the musical, ‘Bombay Dreams’ is about as close as I have come to Bollywood!”

 

With four successful solo albums, Keating is undoubtedly a force to reckon in international music.

 

Known for championing causes he believes in, it was only natural that he should perform at the MTV Immies for the Kashmir quake relief victims. “I’m really glad and honoured to be the only international artiste invited to perform for such a noble cause,” he says. It has not been an easy transition from being a member of a supersuccessful boy band adored the world over to leading a solo career. “I think the main difference between the two is the freedom. When you go solo you make all the decisions, and to me, that is very important. However, when I look back at my Boyzone days, I do regret the way in which it all ended.”

 

That said, the singer does try and catch up with the band mates. “We last met some eight months back, so in that sense it’s been quite some time. But yeah, we try to meet when we can,” is all he is willing to say.

 

If the break-up was one of the low points of his career, he says he has still not reached a high point. My next album is due in March and that’s gonna be my best till date.”

 

And have things changed over the years? “Not really. I still think that there’s nothing like performing on stage; I still need that adrenaline rush to keep me going.

 

And my songs still spell love and hope. But yes, Meg Ryan is no longer my favourite,” Keating signs off with a grin.