Pt Shiv kumar Sharma and Santoor go back a long way.
Pt Shiv kumar Sharma and Santoor go back a long way. It's been almost six decades since he gave his first classical music performance on this Kashmiri folk instrument. The music maestro, who has just released his new album The Complete Works which chronicles his journey, talks about his love affair with the Santoor: 
WHO: Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma
WHAT: Talking about his love for Indian classical music
Nostalgia talk
This particular album has my works since 1960, when I first recorded with HMV. It traces my journey on the Santoor very comprehensively. Music lovers will understand how I have experimented with the tonal quality of the original Kashmiri Santoor. It also has my first compositions for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje in 1965. It has all my classical, folk, fusion and western compositions.
In an experimental mode
I believe that a musician shouldn't be rigid. If I was rigid I would not take up the Santoor, which is basically a folk instrument. It was my dad who encouraged me to take it on. Though I am a classical musician, I have also composed for films like Silisila, Chandni, Darr. I feel that one should do justice to whatever genre he's working in. Till date, I have never played any of my film compositions at a classical concert, despite repeated requests.
When I play classical, I stick to it hundred per cent. When Hariji (Hariprasad Chaurasia) and I gave a few musical hit films, we got offers by the dozen. But we realised we had to compromise heavily on classical music to work on a single film. We chose to concentrate on classical music instead, as it's our first love.
On my play list
I enjoy all kinds of music right from ghazals, qawwalis, folk, pop, rock. I love Michael Jackson's sense of rhythm in his music. Also the sheer melody of old Hindi film songs makes for great listening. Mariah Carey and Pink Floyd are also my favourites. The only kind of music I don't enjoy is heavy metal as I am so used to soft music (laughs).
Originality matters
Today, we see all kinds of music coming out from Indian artists. But very little of it is truly original. There is very little knowledge about Indian classical music. We are seeing some truly gifted singers in music reality shows but they are only film music oriented. We need to make shows on folk or Indian classical music, that will go a long way in filling the void.
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