PADMAVATI SHALIGRAM
Padmavati Shaligram was a singer in the classic mould of the maestro and was devoid of airs and attitudes of the modern-day musicians with their mannerisms and posturing, all geared to self-advertisement and establishment in the musical world at any cost despite no real credentials for being so.
Hailing from the same Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, she reminds one of the great Kesarbai Kerkar, so similar is her voice in its deep resonance and in the gamak taankaari to that of the immortal Kesarbai, and she represents one of the last of the great female vocalists of the 20th century. The sheer confidence exhibited in her bold singing style is proof of her musical mastery and this is what modern-day vocalists must take care to learn from stalwarts such as our subject.
These exponents of Hindustani music were better human beings, too, than the current crop of pretenders and I include in this list of fake musicians some of the past singers as well who pulled strings to rise to the top of public acclaim and governmental awards but whose fame will be finally fleeting as the years roll on and they are lost to public estimation. Contrarily, singers such as Padmavati Shaligram could not gain the favour of the authorities through mean means and remained less in the spotlight but they left behind glorious work through some of their recorded recitals which will survive the ravages of time and win for them a permanent place in the hearts and minds of music-lovers of future generations, for it is art alone that triumphs over the tyranny of the times and never clever manipulation or dubious deeds. May the spirit of Padmavati Shaligram inspire our present-day talents to pursue music in the right spirit and to thus arrive at its fruition!
Written by Sugata Bose
Padmavati Shaligram was a singer in the classic mould of the maestro and was devoid of airs and attitudes of the modern-day musicians with their mannerisms and posturing, all geared to self-advertisement and establishment in the musical world at any cost despite no real credentials for being so.
Hailing from the same Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, she reminds one of the great Kesarbai Kerkar, so similar is her voice in its deep resonance and in the gamak taankaari to that of the immortal Kesarbai, and she represents one of the last of the great female vocalists of the 20th century. The sheer confidence exhibited in her bold singing style is proof of her musical mastery and this is what modern-day vocalists must take care to learn from stalwarts such as our subject.
These exponents of Hindustani music were better human beings, too, than the current crop of pretenders and I include in this list of fake musicians some of the past singers as well who pulled strings to rise to the top of public acclaim and governmental awards but whose fame will be finally fleeting as the years roll on and they are lost to public estimation. Contrarily, singers such as Padmavati Shaligram could not gain the favour of the authorities through mean means and remained less in the spotlight but they left behind glorious work through some of their recorded recitals which will survive the ravages of time and win for them a permanent place in the hearts and minds of music-lovers of future generations, for it is art alone that triumphs over the tyranny of the times and never clever manipulation or dubious deeds. May the spirit of Padmavati Shaligram inspire our present-day talents to pursue music in the right spirit and to thus arrive at its fruition!
Written by Sugata Bose
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