Bickram: Drumming up a storm

Percussionist Bickram Ghosh is on a roll this year. TOI finds out why...
Okay, there���s been Little Zizou, the music for which was made by him. Two albums down ��� Kingdoms of Rhythm and White Note ��� Bickram Ghosh���s next feature is the film score for Gumshuda, which is almost due for release.
His new album will feature electro classical. He walked with his wife as the showstopper for designer Tejas Gandhi at the Kolkata Fashion Week recently.The connect here is that Tejas played Bickram���s self-composed music on the ramp as the Ghosh couple took a bow. Here���s more about what Bickram has to say about this and more:
You are on a roll this year! How come you are suddenly so prolific?
It���s simple. I have my own studio now and I am able to take on a larger volume of work. Also, it would be silly not to take on good work coming your way. It is an era of multi-tasking and though it���s not easy, I am managing to juggle albums, film scores and shows.
...And reality shows!
Ah! Yes, I���ve just completed judging two of those ��� Dance Pe Chance with Saroj Khan and Royal Bengal Superstars for Gajendra Singh. Was fun, though stressful!
Tell us about your new album...
Many Indian classical musicians from our generation are creating electric versions of traditional instruments. Earlier on there was U. Srinivas with the mandolin. Now there is Niladri Kumar with his Zitar, Rajesh Vaidhya with the electric veena , Prattyush Banerjee with the electric sarod, Purbayan Chatterjee with the Dwo etc. I myself have added on the handsonic to my tabla kit. New age music in India is primarily led by Indian classical musicians. Electric versions of traditional instruments increases the scope and reach of the music. I feel this helps bring in the younger generation into the fold of our music. My album is a recognition of this electric trend and features many of these traditional instruments in their new-age avatars. I have also changed the backdrop for the music to a mix of acoustic and electronica. The soul is Indian classical, but the canvas is electronic. I think this movement will make Indian classical music vastly popular amongst a population who doesn���t listen to our classical music. You can comfortably listen to Electro-classical at home, in your car or in a nightclub!
But don���t you think this will compromise the purity of Indian classical music?
Not at all. Electric versions of traditional instruments are played mostly in new-age concerts. I never use the handsonic or the loop station in a pure classical show! All of us are established pure classical musicians and we continue to play classical music in its pure form. I really want to see the whole world recognise the ���soul���, the inspirational quality of Indian classical music. If small changes can help achieve that, why not?