Babu Khan follows his ancestors’ footsteps

Babu Khan follows his ancestors’ footsteps

MUNISH DHIMAN  26th Jul 2014

Babu Khan elonging to a clan of musicians of the Manganiyar sect, Babu Khan is one of those accomplished folk singers who have dedicated their lives to carry forward the legacy of the traditional folk singing, handed out to them by their forefathers. He has come a long way from his sleepy village near Jaisalmer, where he began performing in front of small audiences; today, his shows sell out in Washington, New York, Canada, Hong Kong and Germany. In Chandigarh to perform at a well-attended cultural soirée, Khan shared glimpses of his long journey with Guardian20. "My father, grandfather and great-grandfather sang for the kings of their times and at dargahs. Performing at social gatherings is an integral part of the family culture. Even as a child, I knew that I had to carry forward the family legacy. I had my first lesson when I was barely eight. And, then there was no looking back. I still relish my singing as much as I used to during my formative years, even 40 years later." Those 40 years have not been kind to folk musicians in general, who have had to adapt in order to survive in an increasingly commercialised landscape. "Folk music, be it Rajasthani or from any other part of the country, is not commercially viable nowadays. So singers like me are left with no choice but to try to amalgamate Sufi music or other kinds of folk tunes to rustle up two square meals a day." "With the incursion of different genres, especially Western music," he went on, "it has become a tad difficult to sell traditional music. Even Bollywood composers go about lifting a folk tune and presenting it to the audience after giving it a lyrical makeover. The tune remains, but the lyrics go haywire. It's a blessing in disguise for us, as it earns us fame — not fortune though — and we feel so proud that our music is being promoted across the globe. Even when we perform abroad, fans ask us to perform 'Nimbuda Nimbuda'." Khan believes that besides presenting folk songs to an international audience, composers should also take the initiative to provide commercial success to folk singers. While performing in Chandigarh, Khan was all praise for the appreciative audience. "I adore the Punjabi audience," he said, "as they are great listeners. You get appreciation, feedback and love from people of North India. Punjabis are known for living life king-size, and this is amply reflected in their gestures while showering their love on artistes." Khan, who has been associated with Ila Arun, a noted thespian and folk singer, for more than 25 years, says she helped him reach Bollywood and showcase his talent there. He has worked with the top composers of the country, including A.R. Rahman and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The future of folk music looks dismal, unless serious efforts are made to keep its glorious traditions alive. "Folk music has become a genre that is hardly accorded due recognition these days. We need to go into overdrive to save and preserve this rich legacy for posterity." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/babu-khan-follows-his-ancestors-footsteps