As an instrument that is believed to be an amalgamation of the folksy Afghan rabab (or rubab) and Indian classical traditions, the sarod knows how to blend in, softly and seamlessly. And to those who see it as an extension of themselves, the sarod—there is melody even in its name—has an alchemic ability to make musical gold by mingling gently with different styles, be it rock or electronic dance music (EDM). At the forefront of this fusion today are string brothers Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, the seventh generation of the Senia-Bangash Gharana; the sarod’s evolution from the rabab is attributed to the Bangash family.
The sarod’s soft power is quite evident in the duo’s latest EP (extended play)—We For Love—which, in Ayaan’s words, is an “eclectic, experimental album, because you have someone from the entertainment industry, someone from the classical world, someone from the EDM world, someone from the art world; it is a very unique line-up”.
So, you have the likes of music producer and multi-instrumentalist of Indian origin Karsh Kale, Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale, versatile performer and composer Shubha Mudgal, folk singer Malini Awasthi, filmmaker Karan Johar, sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan and artist Paresh Maity, who did the cover art—all coming together for a cause. The proceeds from the EP will go to the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation and its Justice For Every Child campaign that provides legal and mental health support to child victims of rape and sexual abuse.
The family’s association with Satyarthi began in 2014, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with activist Malala Yousafzai. Amjad Ali Khan and his sons performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and also at the concert.
The recent campaign resonated with the brothers for a very personal reason—Ayaan’s twins, aged nine. “After I became a parent, I felt even more passionately about what he was doing,”says Ayaan. Perhaps, it is unusual for a classical musician to talk about a cause like this, he adds. “But I think this was the time to create awareness,”he says. “Music is the greatest wealth we have in our family. So that is the only thing we can share with the world in order to create awareness for a cause like this.”
Initially, Amaan and Ayaan thought of doing just one track—the title track with Karsh—but then they wanted to make it more special. They reached out to several artistes. “While some did not respond, some were very enthusiastic, and those who were became part of the album,”says Amaan. Adds Ayaan, “My father’s inclusion happened right at the end, because I realised that my father was Satyarthi ji’s choice of artiste when he got such a big award in his life. It would have been incomplete without his involvement.”And, the maestro came on board on one condition—his name should come last.
These were all artistes the duo would have loved to collaborate with at some point in time, says Ayaan. But Karan’s name in this musical line-up must have come as a surprise to many. “I was worried that people might think that Karan has done alaaps (vocals without words),”says Ayaan, laughing. “[Through his narration in ‘Together We Can’], he communicated the reality of what this cause is all about. We are very openly telling everyone to donate to the cause because that is what makes a big difference.”
The duo started work on the EP in October last, when the Delta wave was receding, but then Omicron turned up in December. But like the rest of the world, they took the alternate route to function, using technology to send files. The brothers, who will be visiting professors at the University of New Mexico, think that they could complete the album in a short duration because of some divine intervention. “For us, it was all a kind of a prayer,”says Amaan.
Perhaps, that is why each of the six tracks, though different in genre and treatment, has a soothing effect on the listener. While the title track by Karsh is an EDM track, Shubha’s ‘Fire Within’is a “hardcore classical track”. “It’s just alaaps happening in a traditional Raag Shree,”says Ayaan. “And then Malini Awasthi ji’s track [‘Divine Krishna’] again has the whole thumri colour and element. Mahesh Kale sings a beautiful traditional bhajan [‘Temple of Love’].”The EP ends with Amjad Ali Khan’s ‘Gandhi’s Hymn’—a no-frill rendition of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite ‘Vaishnav Jan To’.
The sarod makes its presence known in all the tracks, but it is subtle. As Amaan says, “We did not want it to look like we were trying too hard. We wanted it to be calm, quiet, pure like a child’s heart.”