Joyeeta Basu Khan is the first of its kind lady who is a music entrepreneur, a whole new concept for the music aspirants; a wife to Ustad Rashid Khan and a mother of three children talks to the Woman Times team about her new journey in music…
WT: Music entrepreneurship is new, what is your concept all about?
JBK: (with a smile) Coined by me, of course, this kind of entrepreneurship is yet to be in India. Certainly, being Mrs. Rashid Khan it gives me a certain opportunity to bring up new talents. Just as there are counseling sessions in schools and colleges for taking up professions like medical, engineering, etc. but there is nothing for pursuing the career of music. The Fifth Note (TFN) for Global Excellence – whose academic partner is Tata Capital, is such an academy that will provide hardcore training to the musicians no matter whichever ‘guru’ they adhere to, TFN promises to polish them and bring out the performers in them. We act as a finishing school and do the route mapping to find out the student’s skills and groom them up for the same.
WT: What is your vision with your entrepreneurial concept?
JBK: We are calling this vision as 2020, by that we will ensure at least 50 performers emerge from The Fifth Note (TFN) Centre for Global excellence and is existing for 16 years. There is a hub, recently constructed, in Krishnagar and the second one is in Chandannagar. We have people like Hariharan, Aman Ali Bangash, Rashid Khan et al and mentors were Ila Arun, Amol Palekar, Nana Patekar. Another feather to the cap of the lady is ‘In conversation with Maestros (CWMs)’ that we had in Kolkata along with 5 state observers where a child can go on the stage and interact with the maestros directly.
WT: Pursuing music as a fully-fledged career, remuneration opportunities often play a critical role in making music a career choice just like other ones. Your comment on it.
JBK: Oh Yes! This is the one major thing I have found a deterrent for any musician in pursuing music. I have seen pundits like Pandit VG Jo, Pandit A Kanan in their late 90s working and earning. They had no pension schemes, no retirement and finances were of huge concern. They could not see their children educated. It happened so as it has not been a planned route. I want it a structured route where one can say he is a music arranger, faculty, demonstrator or a mentor where one is assured of their earning.
I will turn the table for the reality shows too. I will give them finished products which will stay longer in the market and their shows will be remembered for the next 20 years.
WT: Are u planning for a collaboration with schools and colleges?
JBK: Yeah, we will definitely collaborate with schools. Bringing up different models where children need to realize their love for music since childhood. We have 2-year-old children wearing diapers and coming to classes. my son being 13 takes the class as junior faculty and my daughter Suha Khan is the groomer.
WT: Can you imagine India where a child can study only music.
JBK: My son does! He has got an offer from Hari Prasad Chaurasia to spend 10 days with him at his gurukul in Bhubaneshwar and it clashed with my son’s new session but I chose the 10-day session over it as this will be an experience par excellence.
WT: Children are not encouraged to take up music as a mainstream study; can this be a deterrent for your project TFN?
JBK: For any new project each and every mindset is a deterrent. Our core team is very strong and this has been conceptualized 3 years back and only it is last year that it got wings. I dream about making more performers like – Rashid khan, Amjad khan, Hari Prasad Chaurasia et al.
WT: You said by 2020 you will have some performers from TFN and we know there are so many reality shows running parallel, do u think TFN concept and reality shows will overlap?
JBK: I will turn the table for the reality shows too. I will give them finished products which will stay longer in the market and their shows will be remembered for the next 20 years.
WT: Why do you think that traditional musical instruments have lost their essence?
JBK: This is something that the previous generation has been lagging in making the instruments a hit. They could have produced their shows in a more modernized way that would interest the next generation as without interest the legacy cannot be carried forward.
WT: Why don’t Indian schools have music as optional subjects?
JBK: Yeah! It is incorporated in the board syllabus that half of the schools or colleges does not have either lack of music teachers or they do the little for it.
WT: How will TFN play a role in reviving the ancient Indian musical instruments?
JBK: TFN will teach musicians or music students any musical instruments they like to learn. It will do the bridging of the gap, for example, flute – after Hari Prasad Chaurasia there is practically no one so we will viaduct the vacuum.
WT: Do you think music is getting commercialised without quality?
JBK: These are two different questions. Either you produce slippers or chocolates but both the factories have a quality check and reach the masses but their qualities do not degrade. Similarly, commercialization helps but not harms anything. It helps to reach the masses.
…soon the people of Assam will have something new in their basket.
WT: How many schools do you plan to set up?
JBK: By 2018 there should be 5 schools in 5 major cities – Kolkata, Tripura, Hyderabad, Pune and the other one is optional.
WT: Hailing from Assam how does u envision developing the Assamese music industry?
JBK: This is a very interesting question. Two years back I had a long conversation with Jahnu (da) Barua – the national award-winning director – regarding the same when he was planning few things to develop the melodies and I will not speak about it without his permission as this is his baby but very soon the people of Assam will have something new in their basket.
WT: Will TFN work for World Music?
JBK: Yes definitely. It is not always that world music is depicted by fusions but I find it more of confusion. Call of the hour is that more literate musicians need to stand out. The composition must have an adrenaline effect. The audience must be able to connect to the music.
WT: The TFN as you said will work towards adopting ragas, what is this adoption?
JBK: Well, the Banyan Tree is already doing this in North East India as the western music influence is more in the North East as compared to the other parts of India. The raga adoption is in such a format that only the emotions of the raga are attempted through their own song and it is not mandatory to adhere to the ragas as it is.
Rapid-fire –
3 basic things in a purse – I don’t carry a purse
Five things u love about music – only one thing I love about music that it gives me peace.
I am more romantic on a moonlight dinner whereas he is romantic with a bottle of wine.
Any embarrassing moment with music:
It was just after 21 days of my marriage when I was clueless about Indian classical music at Doverlane. I sat next to an old man who was popping his head listening to music I too imitated him thinking this shall be the way. my husband saw me and send someone to ask why I was doing. I said I was listening to music and after the concert was over I realized that the man was suffering from a nerve problem.
Any wishes to fulfill through children – Yeah I want 4 celebrities at home.
Rashid Khan/Amaan Khan – Off course Amaan
More romantic: You or Rashid Khan
It depends on the situation. I am more romantic at a moonlight dinner whereas he is romantic with a bottle of wine.
WT: Thank you, ma’am, for your valuable time for Woman Times.
JBK: It’s my pleasure and All the Best to your team.
