Mumbai: To make classical music easily accessible to smartphone users, Saregama India Ltd, an RPG group enterprise, has launched an app that opens up a treasure trove of over 8000 recordings.
A galaxy of music maestros, including Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, M. Balamuralikrishna, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Ajay Pohankar and poet-lyricist-film-maker Gulzar were present at the launch of the app “Saregama Classical” on Tuesday.
The app will be available on iOS and Android platforms.It will feature the works of over 70 Carnatic musicians, including M.S. Subbulakshmi, M. Balamuralikrishna, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, DK Jayaraman, Lalgudi Jayaraman, M.S. Gopalakrishnan, Madurai Mani Iyer and Bombay Jayashri.
The Hindustani section features the works of four generations of musicians, including Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Zohrabai, Hirabai Barodekar, Pandit D.V. Paluskar, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, Ustad Amir Khan, Pandit V.G. Jog, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Alla Rakha, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, Pandit Basavraj Rajguru, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ronu Majumdar and Ustad Rashid Khan.
The third category of fusion music will include the compositions of Amaan Ali and Ayaan Ali Khans, Bickram Ghosh, Rahul Sharma, Pandit Ajay Pohankar, Taufiq Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurasia and Ranjit Barot.
The app will allow users access to over 50 specially curated radio stations and also allow them to download their favourite compositions.
Music lovers can download the app free with a 7-day trial period after which they will have to choose from a monthly, semi-annual and annual subscription offers.
Vikram Mehra, Managing Director, Saregama India Ltd, toldThe Hinduthat the digitisation of music had eroded the business of traditional music and record companies as cassette and CD sales had declined, and the transition to an app-based platform was inevitable.
“This app allows to us to reach out to classical music lovers in 172 countries. Even if there is a small group of 500 Indian classical music lovers in a country like Iceland, they will be able to download this app from today,” said Mehra.
“Unlike Carnatic music which has a mass following in southern India, there is a perception that Hindustani classical music is an elitist thing to do. So, we want to break that stereotype, and take it to the masses. We consciously decided that we did not want the app to be free. If it is given free, the euphoria over it dies down in a few months. If it is paid, then royalties will go to musicians and there will be reinvestment,” Mehra said.
Initiative welcomed
Mewati gharana exponent Pandit Jasraj welcomed the Saregama initiative: “Young people can listen to music that is even 100 years old.”
Vocalist Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, an exponent of Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, said “Saregama has a large collection of music, and some of these recordings are just lying in their godowns where it is not accessible. If this app makes it accessible to people, it can only benefit classical music, and I welcome the initiative.”
