Pankaj Udhas at the programme on Sunday. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, Jan. 25: Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas is disappointed that the government is doing little to promote music in the country today.

According to Udhas, only due encouragement to innovative song writers and music composers can save the Indian music industry from disaster.

Udhas was in Bokaro steel city to participate in a function organised on the occasion of SAIL Day last night. The celebrated singer rued the declining standard of music in Bollywood films. He said composers today had forgotten their very Indian roots and the essence of Indianess, which made up the soul of a composition was missing today. He said the music industry was at its lowest ebb, and if the trend continued, the songs that Hindi films were known for would disappear forever.

“How can one defend remixes which lack originality? And where are the song writers whose lyrics could move one to tears, or the composer whose music was as soothing as a lullaby?” the singer asked.

Udhas added that the ghazals from old Bollywood films were still a treat to hear, but there was a gnawing lack of creativity in the industry today. He blamed television for misguiding the new generation and cheating them of the opportunity to hear and appreciate traditional Indian music, including classical numbers and ghazals, which were slowly becoming a dying form.

“One cannot forget the simple ghazal lyrics penned by Bashir Badr, Nida Fazli and Firaq Gorakhpuri besides stalwarts like Mir and Mirza Ghalib which takes you to another world of romanticism. I want ghazal to reach every corner of every Indian village for which I am working hard,” said the maestro.