Prasoon Joshi in Jaipur Literature Festival addressed a session called Across Genres: Classical, Folk and Popular Music
Prasoon Joshi, poet, songwriter and Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, explored interrelated genres of Indian music during a session titled Across Genres: Classical, Folk and Popular Music during an insightful conversation with scholar Vidya Shah at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2021.
Let’s discuss the key takeaways from his discussion on significance of understanding, feeling, and getting lost in the beauty of music and art as well as on the present struggles and limitations of a songwriter due to a shrinking lexicon.
“A person who makes art is important, but a seeker of that art is equally important. Art is beyond communication.
These days, we have become too obsessed with the message. Maybe there is no message, and just losing yourself in the moment is all you need,” said the award-winning lyricist.
“I recently said to Gulzar sahab that the usage of beautiful and meaningful words has decreased from his generation to mine.
I have fewer words now to convey my message. During his time, he had more words to describe and convey what he felt because people understood the meaning of those words.”
“No one can lay a singular claim to it. The shine in folk music reflects the collective.”
The finesse of folk music is a work of generations of artists. Many of our traditions are alive due to folk music which explains how there are songs that depict different occasions and values.