There was a time when Doordarshan was the only television channel in India and there was no competition for TRPs. The state-run channel was used for government propaganda, but it also featured some of the country’s best-known Hindustani musicians. We had studio concerts in the presence of an invited audience, maestros were interviewed and there were also regular studio sessions without an audience that often left performers ill at ease. More importantly, these recordings were made only because knowledgeable producers, who were at times artistes in their right, took the pains to curate innovative programmes. Mercifully, some of these recordings have been resurrected and made available to music lovers.
One of my favourites of this early period is Begum Akhtar’s concert in the presence of an invited audience. Known for her exquisite ghazal rendition and her inimitable thumri-dadra style, Begum Akhtar (1914-1974) swayed listeners cross the country with her poignant voice and emotive performances.
This is Begum Akhtar’s birth centenary and what better way to observe it than to view and listen to her television recordings.
The first clip features her rendition of a hori.
This clip brings together Begum Akhtar and the equally charismatic poet Kaifi Azmi, showcasing in the process an ethos, an informality and a composite creative approach that artistes of the time shared.
First appeared in www.scroll.in on May 3, 2014.
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