2 hours agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari
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Famous folk singer and Padma Shri Award -awarded Malini Awasthi recently sung ‘Holi Aaye Re’ for Coke Studio India. The folk song entered the global top 100 of Protifying and achieved a historic achievement, making it one of the most successful Indian folk songs ever on the international stage. Recently, during a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Malini Awasthi told that the legacy of the ancestors has to be conveyed to the people. The song for the name and money is not his aim.
Question- You have not tried to mold your singing into the modern stream, but have worked to bring your pure folk style to the world. Does your songs not see adulteration?
answer- When the goal of trust and music is something else, there is no adulteration. Only pure things will be found there. When the artist is very serious about the expression of the song, there is no other thought. You can call it misfortune that now the industry has become completely dependent on the market.
Now songs are being made according to the demand of the market in the music industry as well. Sometimes there is pressure of listeners, sometimes the makers. Sometimes the artist himself also thinks that he should change his image. I think there are many people in this entire process.
I have not come to this field to earn name and money. My aim is to reach the people that our ancestors have composed. If your destiny is honest, there is purity in the thought, then no matter how much or how much temptation is given. They will not pay attention.
Question- You have collaborated with many big musician-singers at the international level. Now you have done the collaboration Coke Studio for India with Vishal Mishra. Tell me something about it?
answer– Coke Studio has done the opening of the new season with traditional folk songs. I am happy that the folk music of Uttar Pradesh has come to Coke Studio for the first time. Obviously, Coke Studies have their own listeners. In which youth are more. This studio has a huge reach at the global level.
It is the illusion of people that youth do not connect with folk music, but ‘Holi Aaye Re’ has broken all the perceptions. When Vishal Mishra called me for this song, I was very happy. Holi is made of family, love, color and Gujhiya. Therefore these words have been used in that song.
People have the belief about folk artists that they can sing songs for only a particular class. This song proved that perception of the people wrong. I feel that people are turning back and looking towards folk music.
Question- Our own civilization is a precious heritage, but it was having a lot of impact on it. Especially in the music of films, but some web series have been listened to folk music?
answer– As much as you run from the root, the root will be called back. My struggle was in a period when folk songs were considered insult. People were considered poor, rustic, backward, rustic. The illiterate people are those who are unable to understand the sentiments and dignity of these songs.
Well, today is a very beautiful time of folk music. Today, folk songs like ‘Raja Ji’ are being used very beautifully in the ‘Panchayat’ series. The belief in the minds of common people about folk music is to listen, dance, dance and sing for entertainment. Whereas it is not just that.
It has a very strong side. Folk songs have the experience of our ancestors, which has a big lesson, teachings. It has a full life of India in this. It has been said to connect non-violence and relationships.
It is a matter of celebrating every day as a celebration. There is talk of believing in collectivity. The only purpose of my life has been to bring all these things to people. I just have a book ‘Chandan Kiwad’. It has a glimpse of life struggle, music journey, folk culture.
Question- Not only music, but you also organize such programs. Through which people can connect with their cultural heritage?
answer- One of our organizations is ‘Sonchiraiya’. Through this institution, we give a platform to such folk artists. Which people have not seen and heard. We honor the best women artists and give them one lakh rupees. Kajri takes the workshop of the song. I want to take forward the great cultural heritage of India till the last breath.
Question- You have sung very few songs in Hindi films. What has been the reason for this?
answer- The method of films has become very different. Today people ask a day before making a song according to their own, are you free tomorrow? Can you come to Mumbai? I have my own life. Shows keep going. Because of this, many songs are missed. The second biggest thing is that films are very rare about folk songs.
If someone makes something on the rural environment, I will definitely sing. Amazon Prime Video received a call for the next season of the panchayat. I had earlier sung a mass wedding song ‘Sundar Sushil’ in the film ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ and ‘Bhagan Ki Rekha’ in the film ‘Ishaq’. Where that kind of song is demanded and I am called, I definitely go.
Question- You have found Padma Shri, have done a lot for the society and any desire is left?
answer- People have to teach. I never thought that we will get wealth, prestige by singing folk songs. This money is not mine, it should be given back. We have formed an institution under this thinking. I do five festivals in a year through my institution. I have to teach children who are unable to see the pleasant moment of life unfortunately.