Dramatic Sounds

Art,music and literature were an integral part of his growing up years in Bengal. Trained in playing the tabla and harmonium,Ghosh was the lead singer of the song squad of the Communist Party in the early ’70s. Based in Delhi,he was one of the founding members of Janam Natya Manch (People’s Theatre Front,formed in 1973) that focuses on taking theatre to the people. “The influence of working with stalwarts,who were part of Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA),gave my music a new direction. I was introduced to various aspects of music during my academic training in music in the university and by Acharya KCD Brahaspati,” says Ghosh.

Part of mainstream theatre since ’74,Ghosh says he was introduced to Punjabi theatre,language and music by Sheila Bhatia’s group. In the ’80s,he formed the song squad Parcham,which translated and sung protest music. Since then,the group has travelled to remote corners of India,singing about issues that affect the common man. Last year,they cut their album Soorat Badalni Chaahiye,with an aim to bring a change through music. “We have translated eight international protest songs,including Jose Fernandez’s Guantanamera,Bob Dylan’s Blowing in the Wind and Salil Chowdhury’s Alor Potho Jatri. There’s also Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Darbar-e-Watan,” adds Ghosh,who feels music in theatre is not very different from what he creates for television or documentary films. “The only challenge is that the budgets are very limited in theatre,” says the musician who feels that Nadira Babbar’s Yahudi Ki Ladki,Ali Baba and Kafka are some plays that gave him room to experiment.

The theatre audience,shares Ghosh,is more forgiving. Technology,he admits,has brought a sea change in the look and feel of theatre productions. “There’s always a positive and negative side of any technology,but yes,buttons have certainly replaced many talented and specialised people,” says Ghosh,who feels that the scenario makes the work of musicians more challenging,for they need to offer something unique. “I believe in what I do and the music flows,” says Ghosh.