Folk tales

Raghu Dixit has proved that folk-rock numbers have a market outside Bollywood and can be sung in a pub, like he did in Kolkata. Over to Mathures Paul
The arrangement for any Raghu Dixit composition is quite tight, making it impossible for any instrument to be left out, especially the violin that lends his songs an element of pathos. You are taken away from bustling city scenes to paddy fields caressed by a gentle breeze or sand dunes on which a group of folk musicians play. The arrival of Dixit (combined with Avial) marks another (after AR Rahman) beginning to an era of south Indian musicians setting new standards, only this time it’s not in the sphere of Bollywood. The eastern region with Rupam Islam, Skinny Alley and Neel Dutt is also stealing the spotlight from musicians settled in Mumbai or Delhi.
Raghu Dixit Project has been around for years but Kolkata hasn’t heard them, primarily because labels have refused to market folk-rock and Dixit was never interested in “filmy” music. It was once again left to Someplace Else to fly in a group that will define folk-rock music in the coming years. Strangely, Dixit and his team never touch alcohol or smoke cigarettes before concerts but they were playing where one sees the other through a haze, guzzling beer. This was one of the best concerts the pub has hosted this year.
Microbiologist, Bharatnatyam dancer and self-taught guitarist-singer-composer-songwriter Raghu Dixit has been playing for over 10 years and was told by music labels on numerous occasions that he was not good looking and his music was not “marketable”. Frustration got to Dixit and for a brief while he thought of throwing all his songs on the Internet for free download. Thank God, his friend Nisha Abraham intervened and introduced him to two “cool” musicians ~ Vishal & Shekhar. “I was thinking of doing some playback singing,” says Dixit. He approached the duo and played his original compositions. The reception was not positive, at least so thought Dixit. “Vishal leaves half way through the song and returns with Shekhar.” Into his second song, they start discussing something else. “That’s it, I thought. Instead, they suggested that I record these very tracks. These two amazing guys start their label with my album.”
The songs on his album were recorded in 2005 or thereabouts. “I never thought Kannada songs would find market where Punjabi music holds sway.”
The Raghu Dixit Project started when Antaragni disbanded. “It was tough to make other musicians believe in it. I had to take on the responsibility of making the group a success. The musicians were senior to me and one fine day we went our way. This is when I thought of collaborating with other musicians ~ no emotional baggage.”
The Raghu Dixit Project is an open-house set up, into which any musician, graphic artist, poet, musician can walk in. Nobody needs to stay forever (except Raghu!). “It is like dressing your child with new clothes and watching him grow! The group is based on mutual trust.”
Siva is a self taught drummer and percussionist. He is a tremendous bundle of energy on stage and a total riot off stage. Jithin Das, a violinist from Thrissur, Kerala, is product of passed-on-legacy in a family of legendary folk musicians of south India.
Vijay is the most recent addition to the project. He is a blues guitarist at heart and adds his own dimension to the band’s sound. Gaurav Vaz, bass guitarist, provides the solid base that the group’s music stands on. “He is the only guy who tunes his guitar at a coffee shop!”
Dixit’s powerful vocals, sung with a folksy twist are supported by an acoustic guitar. The melodies, interwoven with violin and flute notes are amped with a surprising pinch of blues and rock. The tracks are a blend of Western, Indian and Arabic grooves, making his music fall in the genre ~ “Indo World Folk Rock”. “That pretty much covers all genres. One shop even kept it under ghazals, perhaps the cover art motivated his decision.”
“Now we are playing at least 10 shows a month and hopefully will come to Kolkata more often.”
Dixit has done numerous jingles and was associated with a film ~ Psycho. He also scores for the dance troupe Nritarutya. Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana for TopCast and Black Coffee’s Body Catcher have been his most famous works that brought him critical acclaim as a composer for theatre productions.
“I don’t know anything about ragas. When my mood is right, compositions are in plenty. We have recorded enough songs to cut three or four albums. So, for the time being we will continue to focus on concerts. Also videos for every track will be made to ensure our popularity doesn’t dip,” rounds off Raghu Dixit.