Reviving long lost melodies

In a time where Bollywood chartbusters are on the list of every party and event, two bands that are helming the revival of folk and Hindustani classical music are Maati Baani and Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café. The bands say that their idea is to go back to their roots, and make their music appealing to contemporary audiences. The two bands are set to perform in an open-air event, Awestrung, in the city.

Raman Iyer of Kabir Café says that preaching Saint Kabir’s message of equality, yet retaining the folk element has been the driving force behind the band. “We not only want to spread Kabir’s message of equality but also the original folk style of singing the songs,” he says. Violinist Mukund Ramaswamy met Neeraj during their days performing at NSPA concerts in 2012, while Raman Iyer met the duo at a Kabir Festival in Jan 2013. The band eventually brought on board Viren Solanki on percussions and Poubuanpou Butto KC on the bass guitar. “I don’t think that we discovered Kabir,” says Neeraj, “I think Kabir found us.”

While Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café is all about reviving Kabir’s music, Maati Baani seeks to collaborate with artists across the world and combine Indian folk and Hindustani Classical music with world music genres. Nirali Kartik and Kartik Shah, met at a World Music Festival in Ahmedabad in 2003, and after years of collaborating on different projects, decided to form Maati Baani in 2012. The duo has worked with musicians from as many as five countries for a single song. “Some of our songs take as long as a month to finish,” says Nirali, “We have artists from all corners of the globe coming together through the power of music but the process takes time.” This concert too will see such a collaboration, with a jodia pawa (a type of traditional flute) player, Noor Mohammad, Katchchhi folk artist, Mooralala Marwada and Nigel Rajaratnam, who plays the saxophone.

The camaraderie between the two bands is palpable as they shower praises on each other. “Maati Baani is a great band,” said Neeraj while Nirali said, “Kabir Café’s music is honest, authentic and overall beautiful.”

Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café and Maati Baani will be performing on Friday, May 27, 7 pm onwards at Awestrung, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel