His story started on a different note. Unlike other traditional classical Indian musicians, he didn't bear the mark of a gharana. But was it an impediment in the path of the internationally acclaimed artist. In a candid conversation with the renowned flautist, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, we got the witty side of the outwardly serene musician. Read on!
Not coming from a traditional classical gharana, how did music catch your interest as a beginner, back in 1950's?
My father was a wrestler in Allahabad and enthused me to become one. There are things you do for your parents satisfaction. Don't' you youngsters do the same? It makes me laugh how I whined about it then; it has held me in good stead even now. I can still play my flute for two hours at a stretch.
You wanted to get trained as a vocalist, how did flute happen to you?
Flute happened way before. It came naturally to me because of my humble background. I couldn't buy any expensive instrument. But I could carve flute out of bamboo and carry it in my bag to school. It was a poor man's delight. And I also draw inspiration from Lord Krishna, whose mellifluous tunes tugged at the listener's hearts.
Garnering acclaim at national and international platforms, you have had an illustrious career spanning more than half a century, as a culmination of it, how do you define success?
I have understood that awards keep coming by with time. What I seek is love and appreciation by every single individual touched by my music. I am lucky to communicate to students not just in Vrindaban Gurukul (a music school run by him in Mumbai and Bhubhneshwar) but overseas as well. I connect through the language of music with students in Rotterdam Music Conservatorium in the capacity of the Artistic Director of the Indian Music Department.
Coming to your latest project, Bansuri Guru, the documentary directed by your son, Rajeev Chaurasia. Did it bring back the memories of the halcyon past?
It really flooded in my childhood memories: when I wrestled in the mud for the fun of it and took a dip in the river afterwards; the time I stole vegetables from the farm. All of it struck me vividly through this documentary.
So, are the memories of 80's revived in 2013 with Amitabh Bachhan narrating your documentary?
It is reminiscent of the wonderful experience we had back then. Amitabh Bachhan and I had worked in the 1981 classic Silsila and the beautiful everlasting Holi song Rang barse bheege chunar wali was created. Who would have guessed, that not a single Holi would go by without playing Rang Barse after that point. At that time I didn't even know Amitabh Bachhan could sing so well. It is a pleasure to have him as a narrator for this documentary.
And what was it like working under your son direction?
I was nervous ( chuckles).I had to reveal all my secrets. 'Had he been someone else, I could have cooked up stories', he adds jovially.
With an accomplished past, and a fulfilling present, now at 74 what do you aspire to do next?
I have no unfulfilled aspirations. I don't want to look back in time. And with that he whispered, ‘Well, who said I am 70, I am 17 at heart.’
And would Pt Chaurasia like to establish his Vrindaban Gurukal in Delhi?
Delhi has its fair share of music schools. Back in 1990, Rajiv Gandhi had offered me a 22 acre land in Noida to bring up Vrindaban. I was rooted in Mumbai so I couldn't move my base here. Besides, Delhi has an air of formality that I am scared of. In those days, I remember getting stuck in 6 levels of security for over 2 hours for an appointment with Rajiv Gandhi. Left exhausted, I used to think, I would rather communicate through letters than coming all the way to Delhi...
On the sidelines, we talked to Rajeev Chaurasia, the director, about how did the idea of the documentary germinated. ‘It was a writing on the wall. The quality of the work he has done needs to be preserved for the posterity. I seized the opportunity to make this 60 min long documentary. I didn’t want someone else to make a superficial account of his life. I have genuinely tried to capture what is it that makes him so revered, at the same time kept his naughtiness intact on screen,’ says Rajeev Chaurasia.
Not coming from a traditional classical gharana, how did music catch your interest as a beginner, back in 1950's?
My father was a wrestler in Allahabad and enthused me to become one. There are things you do for your parents satisfaction. Don't' you youngsters do the same? It makes me laugh how I whined about it then; it has held me in good stead even now. I can still play my flute for two hours at a stretch.
You wanted to get trained as a vocalist, how did flute happen to you?
Flute happened way before. It came naturally to me because of my humble background. I couldn't buy any expensive instrument. But I could carve flute out of bamboo and carry it in my bag to school. It was a poor man's delight. And I also draw inspiration from Lord Krishna, whose mellifluous tunes tugged at the listener's hearts.
Garnering acclaim at national and international platforms, you have had an illustrious career spanning more than half a century, as a culmination of it, how do you define success?
I have understood that awards keep coming by with time. What I seek is love and appreciation by every single individual touched by my music. I am lucky to communicate to students not just in Vrindaban Gurukul (a music school run by him in Mumbai and Bhubhneshwar) but overseas as well. I connect through the language of music with students in Rotterdam Music Conservatorium in the capacity of the Artistic Director of the Indian Music Department.
Coming to your latest project, Bansuri Guru, the documentary directed by your son, Rajeev Chaurasia. Did it bring back the memories of the halcyon past?
It really flooded in my childhood memories: when I wrestled in the mud for the fun of it and took a dip in the river afterwards; the time I stole vegetables from the farm. All of it struck me vividly through this documentary.
So, are the memories of 80's revived in 2013 with Amitabh Bachhan narrating your documentary?
It is reminiscent of the wonderful experience we had back then. Amitabh Bachhan and I had worked in the 1981 classic Silsila and the beautiful everlasting Holi song Rang barse bheege chunar wali was created. Who would have guessed, that not a single Holi would go by without playing Rang Barse after that point. At that time I didn't even know Amitabh Bachhan could sing so well. It is a pleasure to have him as a narrator for this documentary.
And what was it like working under your son direction?
I was nervous ( chuckles).I had to reveal all my secrets. 'Had he been someone else, I could have cooked up stories', he adds jovially.
With an accomplished past, and a fulfilling present, now at 74 what do you aspire to do next?
I have no unfulfilled aspirations. I don't want to look back in time. And with that he whispered, ‘Well, who said I am 70, I am 17 at heart.’
And would Pt Chaurasia like to establish his Vrindaban Gurukal in Delhi?
Delhi has its fair share of music schools. Back in 1990, Rajiv Gandhi had offered me a 22 acre land in Noida to bring up Vrindaban. I was rooted in Mumbai so I couldn't move my base here. Besides, Delhi has an air of formality that I am scared of. In those days, I remember getting stuck in 6 levels of security for over 2 hours for an appointment with Rajiv Gandhi. Left exhausted, I used to think, I would rather communicate through letters than coming all the way to Delhi...
On the sidelines, we talked to Rajeev Chaurasia, the director, about how did the idea of the documentary germinated. ‘It was a writing on the wall. The quality of the work he has done needs to be preserved for the posterity. I seized the opportunity to make this 60 min long documentary. I didn’t want someone else to make a superficial account of his life. I have genuinely tried to capture what is it that makes him so revered, at the same time kept his naughtiness intact on screen,’ says Rajeev Chaurasia.