The 'raga' rage with Shaarangdev Pandit

What Shaarangdev Pandit has tried to do with the compositions in his latest album with father and legendary singer Pandit Jasraj is perhaps path-breaking. There is no better way to describe the merger of Indian ragas and Western symphonic music.

The challenge was to maintain the purity of both forms and the two have managed with utmost expertise. “The idea was simple but the execution was difficult. Bapu (Pandit Jasraj) said he had listened to symphony but it was poles apart from Indian classical. It took six months to compose from inception,” says Shaarangdev. 

The compositions cover myriad ragas from Yaman and Marwa to Khamaj, weaving together a gamut of moods ranging from romance and passion to devotion. But the highlight is the composition of the four Vedas that takes you on a spiritual journey. 

Pandit Jasraj describes the music in the best possible way. “The colours and methods we have used in these songs is like creating an abstract painting. You need the knowledge and you need to experience it to be able to decipher it.”

The whole composition of the symphony has been done by his son Shaarangdev but not without the maestro’s expertise. The two have worked together before too. “Bapu was in New York when I was working on the album. I would call him up if I got stuck in the evenings after work. It would be mornings there. He’d say he’ll think about it and call me back. After he returned home, we would sit in the studio for hours.”

While on the subject, the father-son duo bond over the various albums they have collaborated on. The closeness is evident and more so the respect in Shaarangdev’s eyes. “Ours is a Guru-student relationship,” he says. Pandit Jasraj adds, “We know each other well and bring our own knowledge into the equation. When you have that understanding you can work on the finer points of music.”