'Classical is the purest'

Hindustani Classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar is critical of film music as much as she was some 30 years ago.

Kishori Amonkar, one of the finest female Hindustani Classical vocalists of her generation, is often described as someone with an uncompromising approach - a fact that one learns within minutes of meeting her. Any irrreverence or even an omission of duty could make her angry. But beneath the tantrums and rigid attitude, also lies a soft-hearted songstress, who forgives and forgets quite easily too. On her recent visit to New Delhi, to participate at the annual Swar Utsav, Amonkar talks about various controversies surrounding her.

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You have dissociated yourself from the biography which was published a few months ago. Comments.
That is not a biography on my life. It is absolutely trash. 'Gansaraswati', written by a music critique Datta Marulkar, released early this year and published by Shripad Prakashan is not an authentic account of my life. My appeal to all my fans is not to read the book at all. It has nothing to do with my life at all. Imagine talking about Lata Mangeshkar and all others in what is supposedly a book on me. He claims Lataji has done so much for music lovers that she remains unparalleled. In the same breath, he calls Kumar Gandharva a Pratibha Shiromani. If he believes in it, it's fine, but why bring all this in my book? Some of my statements have been distorted or else after quoting me, he has had the audacity to offer his own personal comments within brackets, either making fun of my statements or adding ,'This is what she supposedly feels.' How can he insult me like this? He has the nerve to insult my gurus too. Someone like him, who knows nothing about music should not be allowed to pen any authoritative book on it. Can he ever hope to come anywhere near me as far as knowledge of music is concerned?

But what made you sing for Geet Gaya Pathoron Ne some 30 years ago and compose for Drishti later?
I made Geet Gaya… an exception because I was young and trying to explore my capabilities as a singer. Since film music is invariably for a certain situation, it has its own demands and I wanted to find out whether I was prepared to accept it as a challenge. I was young too and wanted to give it a try. But once I tried it, I realised that it wasn't my scene at all. About Drishti, it was a pleasant experience since they were all my compositions and they were based on pure ragas too. Sadly, no one came to me with any such offers to compose for their films after Govind's (Nihalani) and I regret it.

When other pop performers sing on the same platform as you do, does it hurt you?
It does. When I spot drums and all kinds of western instruments which are supposedly melodious, I cannot somehow come to terms with such an odd mix of different fusion. You may call me old fashioned but then that's the way I am. To me it's nothing but confusion. I did experiment once with a French artiste for an ensemble and it wasn't all that bad but as I said, it isn't anything close to our classical music which is so rich. Our music is emotive and doesn't require any embellishments. To me, classical music is divine and spiritual in music. That's what I have learnt from my gurus.

You have composed for other singers too, like Mharo pranom.. for Shobha Gurtu. Do you enjoy the process of composing for other singers?
It was just once that too because Shobhaji is like a sister to me. She is supremely gifted and so good at singing thumris that it was composed specially for her. Do you know, wherever she goes even today, the one request that always comes up is for that bhajan?

Since you have preserved many of your mother, Mogubai Kurdikar's recordings, would you be compiling them for an album someday?
I would love to but who is going to do the needful? She was my guru and whatever I am today is thanks to her. Is any music label willing to market such recordings? I have my doubts. I categorically want to state that HMV releases all kinds of eclectic mix of recordings of major classical vocalists in the country with utmost callousness. I once requested them to exclude Mian Malhar, which they had rights of from a collection and the next thing I know is that only Mian Malhar finds its way into the album which features other great singers alongside. With ethics at its lowest ebb, do you think anybody would be interested in my mother's original recordings?

Do you listen to any of your favourite singers in your free time?
I refuse to answer that question.