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Bickram Ghosh, tabla exponent and composer, takes Indian bushed to the satellite signifier arsenic the creator manager of the India Pavilion astatine the 61st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2026. The India Pavilion volition contiguous ‘Many waters person flown’,a cross-cultural philharmonic journey, conceived by Bickram. To beryllium held from May 5 to 9, the programme weaves unneurotic divers Indian philharmonic traditions, each retaining its chiseled individuality portion entering into a speech with the others.
From accompanying Pt. Ravi Shankar and scoring for implicit 55 films to 4 Grammy nominations, Bickram’s euphony is simply a seamless blend of classical euphony and modern sound. He talks astir his originative inspiration, his relation astatine the Venice Biennale, and what it genuinely means to enactment India connected a planetary taste map.
Your earlier enactment ‘Spirit of Kolkata’ captured the city’s psyche by weaving unneurotic thoroughfare noises, temple bells and mundane chatter. Do you program to bring a akin consciousness of rootedness to your presumption astatine the Biennale?
The Spirit of Kolkata was an experimental way that utilized the sounds of the metropolis to make rhythms. That was respective years ago. I’ve released my caller Rhythmscape 2.0 album, which is getting affirmative reviews. Our archetypal video released a week ago, which I deliberation has crossed implicit 1 cardinal streams. I’ve utilized each the classical creation forms, choreographed by my woman Jaya Seal Ghosh with Roshan. I americium trying to showcase the affluent tapestry of sounds and vocal genres of Indian music. We person galore artistes specified arsenic Rajhesh Vaidya connected the veena, V. Suresh connected the ghatam, Shomyajyoti connected the flute, Ashwini Shankar connected shehnai, Anaya Ghatgil connected the keyboard and Arvind connected the mridangam. We volition artistes singing Tagore geet, ghazals and semi-classical and people songs.
How challenging is it to clasp one’s creator individuality connected a planetary platform?
With a beardown classical foundation, it becomes easier to curate presentations for a planetary audience. But I had ever wanted to beryllium a versatile musician, and that has helped maine look beyond the classical format to travel up with innovative bushed patterns. Many of my philharmonic outings, including my stint arsenic originative manager of the Serendipity festival for 4 consecutive years, person broadened my perspective.
How bash you envision the aboriginal of Indian classical music?
I americium optimistic astir the aboriginal of Indian classical music. Since the pandemic, determination has been a noticeable instrumentality to classical listening, particularly among younger listeners. I americium personally performing acold much classical euphony than I person successful decades. My Naad Festival, which is wholly classical, plays to packed houses each evening, arsenic bash astir classical concerts today.
Bickram believes listeners are present overmuch much unfastened to cross-cultural euphony | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The India Pavilion astatine the Venice Biennale has been described arsenic an acquisition of a lifetime, but the lack of section Italian artistes has besides sparked controversy. How bash you respond to this?
The India Pavilion is meant to showcase India, and I don’t spot immoderate contention successful that. It is simply a level for presenting India’s creator voice, and that is precisely what is happening. I americium presenting Indian music, and determination has been tremendous involvement among Italian audiences, who are genuinely anxious to prosecute with it.
Rhythmscape was a groundbreaking medium and present Rhythmscape 2.0 has been launched. How acold bash you deliberation listeners person travel successful presumption of embracing fusion and experimentation?
I deliberation audiences contiguous are acold much unfastened to fusion. People are progressively comfy with cultures overlapping, possibly due to the fact that they themselves are becoming taste melting pots. We spot this crossed food, clothing, euphony and cinema. I similar to deliberation of it arsenic ‘glocal’ — wherever the planetary meets the local. There is simply a increasing involvement successful proceeding taste sounds connected the satellite euphony stage, and erstwhile these traditions meet, they make a definite spiritual and melodic harmony.
After the Venice Biennale, what next?
I americium signaling an medium titled Trikaala with the legendary L. Shankar from the archetypal Shakti and Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya. After the Venice Biennale, I caput straight to Germany to constitute a people for the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra arsenic portion of a festival there.
