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The Rhythm Speaks…

Clad in denim jeans and a smart casual shirt, Bickram Ghosh looks like a rockstar in contrary to the typical image of a tabla player with his curly uncombed hair, goatee and broad copper wrist band.

The late George Harrison (of The Beatles) gave him the title of Prince of Tabla. Bickram Ghosh is a tabla maestro, who has composed music for 12 films in Hindi, Bengali and English. A professor of music, he has taught in universities in India and as a brand ambassador and an actor, he has many feathers in his hat. He has over 70 albums to his credit worldwide and has worked on one Grammy-winning and three Grammy-nominated albums. Growing up in Kolkata, India, he learnt tabla from his father Pt Shankar Ghosh, one of the greatest tabla players and Carnatic percussion intricacies from Pt S Sekhar, and grew up in a house where great music maestros like Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pt Ravi Shankar, Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Aashish Khan used to come for informal music sessions.

From Royal Albert Hall to homely musical sessions, he delivers the dexterity and erudition of a master musician with modesty and musical sensibility. He has wings to explore new horizons yet, he is firmly rooted to the soil.

What does it mean to be the only son of 
a great maestro like Shankar Ghosh: a pleasure 
or pressure?

Both. My father held my hands to teach me tabla and when he developed confidence in me, he left my hands loose and told me, “Go and find your horizon without using my name.” He had never recommended me to anyone. This evoked a sense of responsibility and a desire to establish myself as a musician. I have paved my way 
from there.

You come from a lineage inheriting traits of great masters in a musical atmosphere, have been accompanied by great musicians and had the freedom to pursue what you want — 
basically, all the ingredients for success. What else helped?

Luck and a catalyst in your life which can trigger 
your inner passion! In 1993, during a casual music session at a family friend’s house in Belgium, I was going to play the tabla with some musicians. Suddenly, the atmosphere turned still and I overheard that Pt Ravi Shankar was visiting us. After the programme, he went to everyone individually and complimented each person. But when he came to me, he asked who had taught me the tabla. “Pt Shankar Ghosh,” I replied, without revealing that he was my father. He said nothing and left. I was 
very disappointed.

In a while, someone came running to me saying that Pt Ravi Shankar was on the phone and wanted a word with me. I took the phone nervously and heard, “Bickram, will you play with me tomorrow for the concert?” His offer was as musical to my ears as 
his sitar.

I have played in over 1,000 concerts and travelled all around the globe with him. This gave me great exposure to music and the musicians of the world. I have worked with him on his prestigious project, produced with former Beatle George Harrison called ‘Chants of India’. I have also played on the title track of George’s posthumously released, Grammy nominated album Brainwashed. Pt Ravi Shankar has refined me as a musician and as a person. This is luck.

Luck by chance! What about the catalyst?

Ustad Zakir Hussain influences me immensely. He is like an elder brother to me. I was doing a lot of concerts those days, accompanying great musicians, and had attained a certain degree of confidence in performance. He heard me playing in a concert and invited me for dinner. We were talking like two pals. Suddenly he asked, “Bickram, don’t you think you need to give more to the world? Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music. Give what the world deserves from you.” His words served as a catalyst and ignited fire and desire 
in me.

So you formed a band called Rhythmscape to create and give the world a new genre 
of music?

Absolutely, I handpicked some very talented and versatile musicians and started creating a new genre of music which intricately weaves the complexity of Indian classical music with that of other forms of world music. Through Rhythmscape, I added on some elements like groove, a bass frequency and a certain interactivity with the audience to the basic framework of classical music. This allowed my music to become more accessible to younger people who are sometimes intimidated by classical music and 
its aura.

My rigorous training in Hindustani and Carnatic music, and exposure to diverse forms of music across the globe has been instrumental in honing my ability to experiment and create a genre of music accepted and respected by traditional classical musicians while being simultaneously liked by the younger audiences. The sole content of the classical music should touch the discerning listeners.

Just as Ustad Zakir Hussain acted as a catalyst for you, would you say you are an influence for someone else? If so, who?

Frankly, I have not found anyone so far, but I am sure I would like to groom deserving, budding youngsters. Time is a major constraint though. I travel a lot for concerts and recordings. I am working with some western musicians like Pete Lockett, Jesse Banister and Djamel Beynelles. In India, I am working on five albums, reality shows and classical concerts. I want to teach and hone youngsters but maybe that will have to wait a little.

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