He belongs to a musical family, and started training in classical music under his mother Urmila Nagar, a renowned Kathak exponent and a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, at a very young age. Today, Ujwal Nagar is known for his appealing voice, impeccable taans and intricate rhythmic improvisation.
“My mother discovered my talent, and it all began from there. Though I took my initial training from my mother — who is my first guru, I have also received intensive training from Late Ustad Bashir Ahmed Khan of Sikar. I am also taking guidance from Pandit Somnath Mardurji and Pandit Shriram Umdekarji,” Nagar tells Metrolife.
A recipient of Sahitya Kala Parishad scholarship, Nagar is also a proficient tabla player having trained under his brother, young virtuoso Vishal Nagar. “When I was introduced to the instrument by my mother at the age of 12, I was fascinated by its rhythm.
And as a classical vocalist, knowing the tabla always helps. However, even though learning the tabla added to my musical repertoire, my focus has always been on classical vocals — it is where my emotional connect lies,” says the artiste who has been collaborating with music band Advaita since 2004.
Nagar says his tryst with Advaita began after he went for a music session with a few friends (band members Anindo Bose and Suhail Yusuf Khan). “Coming from a background with roots in classical music, I had my initial doubts. But after sitting through the session, I saw a space which I could relate with and where I could do something as a singer. I saw melody there, which was not necessarily traditional, but was a result of different aspirations, tastes and backgrounds, and I knew this is where I had to be,” he
recollects.
But classical musicians are known to improvise — so how challenging is it to work as a team and sing fixed compositions? “It is true that as a classical vocalist you have the
urge to improvise, and classical singing is all about an individual. But Advaita is a platform which gives all its eight members the freedom to express themselves. However, that level of expression varies; and since it is a collaborative project, you have to be open to others’ ideas and respect them. In some compositions you may be the focal point, while in others you may not – but you have to understand the reasons and sensibilities behind the same,” he says.
On being asked whether he thinks he would have been equally popular had he not been a part of the band, Nagar says, “probably not”.“I cannot deny that Advaita is a brand, and I am absolutely proud to be a part of it. We have captured various moods in our songs and also introduced classical music to the youth at a time that no other band was doing so. It is also true that I may not have been as popular, and would have reached such a wide audience had it not been for Advaita. At least people know about my existence,” he smiles.
Ujwal Nagar will be performing at ‘Pranam — A Prelude to Harmony’, which will be followed by a jugalbandi between Rohit Prasanna (flute) and Soumitra Thakur (sitar).
The performance, organised by music organisation Sangeet Ganga, is scheduled for May 31 at Amaltas Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road.