'Obscenity corrupting Punjabi music'

PATIALA: "It is unfortunate that people who know nothing about music have started performing on the stage with semi-naked girls. Such people have given a major setback not only to Punjabi culture, but also to the rich music traditions of the region," said noted film music director Uttam Singh in an exclusive interview to Times News Network.
Lashing out at TV channels, the music director of 14 hit films like ‘‘Maine Pyar Kiya’’, ‘‘Ham Aapke Hain Kaun’’, ‘‘Gadar’’, ‘‘Waris’’, ‘‘Hero’’, ‘‘Painter Babu’’, ‘‘Dushman’’, ‘‘Dil To Pagal Hai’’, ‘‘Pinjar’’ and ‘‘Ham Tum Pe Marte Hain’’, said that such singers were responsible for polluting Punjabi culture in the name of Punjabi music through their meaningless videos.
Uttam Singh said that opinionmakers in the society should make positive efforts to stop this ‘‘noise pollution’’. He said that this was an appropriate time to educate the younger generation about the rich and diverse heritage of Punjabi music.
Uttam Singh said that the entire Guru Granth Sahib was based on prescribed ragas and it was the only holy scripture of its kind in the world. He said that the tradition began with Guru Nanak, who spread his message around the world with his musician companions Bala and Mardana. ‘‘The tradition of music was taken ahead by the Gurus that followed Guru Nanak. ‘‘Guru Gobind Singh used to organise Kavi Darbar of his 52 poets at Paonta Sahib.’’
Uttam Singh regretted that despite the rich music traditions in Punjab, even the followers of Sikhism were going away from music and the kirtans.
‘‘It is indeed sad that even Gurbani these days is being sung on film tunes.’’ He maintained that it was not necessary that music be made a means of livelihood. ‘‘Music should be a part of lifestyle. One should know how to appreciate good music. If this happens, no one will dare to pollute our rich music tradition,’’ he said.
He was all-praise for people from the South, who, he said, despite being doctors and engineers learnt to play musical instruments.