Bollywood is damaging Indian art: Shujaat Khan

Renowned sitarist Shujaat Khan feels art, including folk music in India, is suffering because of Bollywood and it does not inspire him anymore.

"There is too much of Bollywood for now, and because of that every art is suffering in this country. I am not saying it is a bad thing, but our folk music suffers because of Bollywood. It sometimes gives us lovely music, but sometimes it damages," he told PTI.

The 56-year-old sitarist said he was 'self-content' with his achievements. "I travel world over and perform 100 concerts a year at the best festivals and best concerts where even Amitabh Bachchan cannot go. I performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. He (Bachchan) is a great person, but I am saying we go to places where Bollywood doesn't go," he said.

"Bollywood doesn't inspire me. A three-minute song doesn't inspire me. If I heard artists like Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Amir Khan Saab, I get inspired, for they perform for at least one-and-a-half hours, maximum."

Khan, who is in the city to participate in the 'Fakiri-Bangalore Folk Festival' presented by Phoenix Market City, from June 10 to 12, said he enjoyed the music of RD Burman because of his innovations.

"I enjoyed the music of RD Burman because of his innovations. I too like to innovate. I was the first musician to play a musical instrument and sing as well. I sing qawali, Sufi and folk songs," he said.

Asked to comment on young Bollywood composers who have impressed him, Khan, son of legendary sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan, said, "Even earlier when I was associated with



Bollywood, I did not enjoy a particular music director or a singer. I used to pick songs which I liked, but performed by different composers. So, I cannot pick on one director among the young lots of today. I don't follow one music director."

Khan, previously, had been associated with Bollywood, working with Laxmikant–Pyarelal, OP Nayyar and RD Burman, but stopped working in the Hindi film industry as "the three minutes presentation of songs didn't interest him.

"It was great working with these legends, then, when I was living in Bombay (Mumbai). Instead of three-minute songs, I enjoy performing a one-and-a-half hours concert," he said.

On current young classical musicians, Khan said, "There is no dearth of young talent. Their music is wonderful and vibrant. There is no problem. There are young artists who are still keeping the legacy intact."

On his relationship with his famous father, he said, it had its "little ups and downs" which happens with every son and father, but in his case, it was highlighted more.

"I am the son of a well-known father, and when I left home for sometime it became a big scandal. In terms of music, there was never a problem. He was a great musician and we had a perfect relationship of a student and a teacher.

"If somebody calls me Vilayat Khan ka beta, it is a great honour, but the good thing that has happened in my life is that people don't associate me only with him. They now accept me as an individual who has his own creative style ... People come and enjoy my performance, not because I am his (Vilayat Khan) son, but because of my style of music," he said.