Book Review: Looking for Miss Sargam
Shubha Mudgal is hard to describe as "just" a classical musician. You cannot think of too many Hindustani Classical singers who have a rock music hit to their credit. Most classical musicians would shudder to displease their audience by singing rock music for a music composer who was then unknown. But not Shubha Mudgal. She will shrug her shoulders and give it a shot.
Are you serious?
Music composer Shantanu Moitra asked her to sing the rock number
Ab Ke Sawan. S
he asked, "Do you really want me to sing this? Are you serious?" Shantanu nodded and Shubha Mudgal recorded the song that became a runaway success.
Shantanu Moitra describes the moment in his book
Shubha admitted that she had never sung such a song before but said she would give it a try. I followed her to the recording room with bated breath. But the moment she opened her mouth, a kaleidoscope of musical colors and patterns were unleashed into the air. What was hard rock in comparison with that volcanic performance? There was a hushed silence. Everyone in the studio stood like statues, mesmerized by her singing. Ab ke Sawan was made.
Musician, columnist, podcaster ...
She has written a column on Music for Mint newspaper. She has a podcast called Serendipity Music Podcast. Now she has written her debut work of fiction called Looking for Miss Sargam. It has wowed critics and audiences alike.
There are seven short stories. Like the seven notes of music, each one is different and yet part of the same octave. The stories have an insider-view that is hard to miss. The first story features Shweta Bansal the VP Marketing of The New New Times. The newspaper that "set new standards and trends in selling every inch of space. You could buy a story, a column, a feature on any activity you wished to indulge in..." Shweta Bansal is trying to get Sikandar Sufi, a to share a stage with a Pakistani singer Hayaat Ali.
Sikandar Sufi's manager Sunny Suneja is known for his ruthless negotiation skills. Shweta Bansal wants to get Sikandar to agree to the date and rate she offers without Sunny.
'Jaldi kya hai, Madam Ji, what is the hurry?' said Sikandar. 'Baat-shaat to kar lein pehle.' (Let us first discuss things a bit).
Dream merchants and dreamers
Shubha Mudgal portrays those moments when musicians have to deal with the brokers who promise them big breaks. The musicians like the prospect of fame and money but are too timid to displease their home turf.
In the story "Foreign Returned" the opening line says it all. "Asavari Apte, Hindustani classical vocalist and teacher from Pune, had longed to bag a foreign tour". There is a story about musicians being a part of a reality TV show. The poignant story of a musician who over zealous parents crush their son's dreams.
There is a story of Raj Ramani, the "The Man Who Made Stars". Raj Ramani "was now Raaj Rammaannii in print." The kinks of the characters sound familiar enough to get you to chuckle and draw your own conclusions.
The stories are set at the intersection of art and commerce. The classical musician's brush with the seedy fixers who get them money and fame. There is the occasional street smart musician like Sikandar Sufi. I could almost visualize a Mario Miranda cartoon to go with each story. Hey that would have been nice, you know.
A delightful read
The settings are varied. So what goes on behind the scenes when two star musicians from India and Pakistan share the stage in a concert for peace? A small-town music teacher and a big-city businessman team up. They plan a hunt for India’s best new classical talent—and make a few crores in the process? How does it end? Shubha Mudgal writes about these from the point of view of an insider. And that is why each story is so authentic. The tone is funny but there is a tinge of sadness I felt right through, even as I laughed. The stories have a wicked humor that comes from someone who has seen these characters at close quarters.
Pursuing a career in the arts is not for the faint hearted. The musicians have to put in years of practice without ever getting the recognition they crave. The ones who get the recognition are accused of selling their soul for money. Shubha Mudgal's debut book
is a must read. When you meet a musician the next time maybe you will give them a silent hug for pursuing their dreams in a cruel world.
If Shubha Mudgal wins an award for her literary debut, remember, I told you so.
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