Digital media has widened horizon of music: B K Sumitra

“Young musicians use various digital platforms and social media to showcase their musical talents today. This is a positive sign,” opined singer B K Sumitra. “But, technology can be misleading,” she warned.

Sumitra is known as the ‘Nightingale of Malnad’. She was in the city as a resource person for a light music workshop organised by Kannada department of St Aloysius College.

“High-end recording and editing software are used to correct mistakes that happen while singing. This reduces the level of perfection among singers. Such applications are also available on mobile phones. In my day, technicians used spool tape recording systems. There was no digital music. So we used to strive for perfection,” she recalled.

Sumitra lamented that music companies were not releasing too many light music albums. “Audience tastes have changed,” she observed.

“The overwhelming demand for light music and folk songs in the past, is still fresh in my mind,” she recounted.

“There are many opportunities for youth today. TV channels host reality shows which provide a platform for young talent. Coming from a rural background, I feel that such platforms are very important,” she said.

“As compared to urban areas, rural children have less access to musical training. With the intent to take music to rural areas, music director B V Shrinivas and I have held light music workshops in remote areas of Karnataka such as Bidar and Gulbarga. We have held 537 workshops in India and abroad,” she stated.

Sumitra is popular for her film songs ‘Sampige Marada’ in Upasane and ‘Ondu Dina Ratriyali’ in Gejje Pooje films. She also sand for ‘Kavaleradu Kulavondu’, ‘Mahasati Anasuya’, ‘Onde Balliya Hoogalu’, ‘Sati Sukanya’ and ‘Hamsageethe’.

At the workshop held at the college, students learnt songs written by D R Bendre, Matighatta Krishnamurthy and others. St Aloysius College principal Dr Pravin Martis presided over the inaugural programme. Kannada department Head Dr Saraswathi was present.