An awesome singer and a person with full of a sense of humour chits chat with Woman Times on issues related to music and his life, Rupankar Bagchi.
WT: Tell us about your dive into the music industry.
RB: I am brought up in a musical family. Both my parents went through musical training and I witnessed a cultural collaboration. My inclinations towards my maternal side encouraged me to nurture the cultural side of myself through Tagore literature and songs. I did a demo cassette when I was in the second year and it was the era of Nachiketa, Suman Da, Gautam Chattopadhyay from Mohiner Ghoraguli and approached to the Atlantis music and on their approval my first album ‘Tumi Shunbe ki’ gets launched.
I am more popular to women and hence my existence comes from the female genre. I will say learn karate, judo and beat the men wherever you get.
WT: Struggle at your time and today’s generation has a wide gap. How will you look at it?
RB: Struggle is a struggle there is no difference. It means to establish your place and retain it. The focus may have changed but there is a struggle. Today’s generation gets access of youtube though but again I am not very comfortable with the digitalization of music. Though I do admit that this technology has granted every wish of us at the wink of an eye like I wanted to watch the match of Barcelona, then something on animal planet and again shifted to Bon Jovi it’s all there on the board of the digital world.
The urge to listen to a song buying a CD or cassette has died and nobody shows the interest to save the pennies to purchase a CD because it is all there at one click. Even during the concerts, I feel that the audiences are superficial while enjoying the numbers.
WT: In one of your earlier interviews you mentioned that ‘tele bhaja’ is a good source of earning. How do you think that for sustainability singers and musicians must look for alternative sources of income?
RB: Yes, I do think so that to sustain in this world you must have money and to earn money you will have to work. I think every bong is the foodie so food restaurants are the best options for the musicians to sustain. Like in Kolkata, there has been a place ‘Music World’ which is replaced by ‘Au Bon Pain’ so I think coffee sells well than music.
WT: Music piracy is a huge problem how do you think can it be… (interrupted by a prompt answer).
RB: Piracy of music is a good thing; at least people can listen to my songs. What if piracy would not have been there, the music companies never gave us the due share of our hard work. In India, it is never possible for banning pirated versions on websites. It really does not affect as some are earning from piracy.
WT: The music companies are supposed to give royalties to the singers or musicians… (again interrupted by his prompt answer).
RB: Nobody gives royalty. They give all fake sales statements to waive off the royalty and the musicians in Kolkata or West Bengal are not even concerned about the cheated money being unsecured of further work with the company. The fear of losing opportunities grabs all the revolutions of the musicians.
WT: Is there any union or association as such but there is no proper unity in getting through the process of making a common platform for the musicians. But there are ego clashes and self-interests that hinder in the revolt against the financial deprivation of the musicians. To date, there have been more than five meetings but nothing could be concluded.
WT: Rupankar Bagchi is too straight forward, what problems did you face?
RB: Yes, a lot. But since I am not rude so people behave properly; I know most people do not like me.
WT: More than two decades in the music industry and a box of experience, what are the opportunities in the music field for this generation?
RB: opportunities are huge. YouTube is the major destination for displaying talents but the only request to everyone is that upload the songs only when you know how to sing. Other musical apps are promoting new talents. Amidst everything, rejection is important for growth in life.
WT: Be it Bollywood or Tollywood, there were singers decades back who reigned a respective era but in the present situation, there are multiples singers but not one to rule. Is that the productivity is falling?
RB: No, there are many good singers the only problem being too much of everything at the same go which does not allow the quality content to be in focus. Gulzar Sahab once told me when I went for a national award that ‘thehrao nahi hai’ no one is stable. There is a lot of restlessness among the people.
WT: On your 15th anniversary, both of you have pledged your organs so organ donation awareness in your words will be?
RB: My wife has pledged long back, but since I did she accompanied me. This is very important as after death there is nothing so why not donate your organs or body for something good.
…I am not rude so people behave properly; I know most people do not like me.
WT: Your upcoming projects?
RB: An album is up on the cards and collaborative work with Arnab from Bangladesh. I have done playback in a few movies but I do not remember the names.
WT: Many singers and musicians are moving to Bollywood and get settled there. Why do you think they do not return to Kolkata to develop this industry? Will you go to Bollywood?
RB: Why will they come? Tell me that. They are working hard there so making one’s own field strong is always important. But I will not go as I am very homesick; my daughter’s school is here. Moreover, I am not as smart as the Mumbaikars (with a sarcastic smile).
WT: Do you support the remix culture of the Tagore songs?
RB: Yes, absolutely. Only the unsecured singers will go against it.
WT: Rapid Fire –
First Love – Geography Teacher
Music to you – is life.
Three things that you carry while going out of house – Wallet, and cigarette.
Message to women –
RB: (with a big laugh) I am more popular to women and hence my existence comes from the female genre. I will say learn karate, judo and beat the men wherever you get. Women are always ahead of men and are multi-tasker that I have witnessed at my home.
