Legacy is a great responsibility'

Sarod star

As one of the finest sarod players, Amaan Ali Khan has created a special place for himself in the country. He is considered as an inspiration for the younger generation of musicians, but the 38-year-old admits he still gets intimidated by his father, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan whenever they perform together on the stage.

“Even today, when I am on stage with him, I can’t deliver more than 40 per cent because one tends to get intimidated by his presence, his aura, and everything around him. So, it becomes very difficult as a student to perform with him,” says Amaan who has co-authored a couple of books including ‘Abba-God’s Greatest Gift to Us’ on his father’s life in November 2002.

“If I wouldn’t have been his son, it would have taken me much longer to establish myself. Having a father like him means a lot of responsibility. In fact, having a legacy is a great responsibility,” he adds.

He shares great camaraderie with his father and considers him as an “ambassador of peace.” “He is a great father, musician, friend and companion. He is an ambassador of peace, perfection and humility, not because he is my father but because he is an amazing musician. So, my relationship with him has been more like a friend than a disciple,” he tells ‘Metrolife’.

Amaan was initiated into the world of sarod by his father. He gave his first public performance at a very young age. “I started learning at the age of five or six. My first concert was when I was 15 or 16 years. But it was one of those concerts, where I wasn’t involved in music. Music happened to me about 12-13 years back. I was a late bloomer,” mentions Amaan who is a recipient of the Bharat Shiromani Award for instrumental music.

“I have always considered myself an average player. I am not modest, but honest,” he adds. With a packed year ahead, Amaan says it is the audience that keeps the father-son trio (Amjad-Amaan-Ayaan) motivated. “The vibration of people, love and affection gets one excited. As people come for our concerts and interact with us, it gives us a boost.”

He doesn’t believe that Indian classical music is disappearing. “I feel Indian classical music is again coming in the front because there are a lot of young performers who are connecting with the audience. Whenever we feel the genre is disappearing, it’s the people who are disappearing,” he says.

“There was a period where there was a gap. At that time, either you had stalwarts or you had lesser-known performers with whom the audience couldn’t connect. Now, you have a lot of younger people in sarod, santoor, sitar, tabla who are connecting with youngsters. People are listening to them and want to see them. That is why the whole music scene is becoming stronger,” he says.