lLike previous years, orchestra groups popularly known as melodies ruled during the festive season this year too. As a veteran musician, do you think these groups are enriching the music industry in any way?

Not at all. Long ago, there was an Anglo Indian orchestra group called Melody in Jatni, which used to perform at several places. So, local music troupes started adding the word “melody” to their original names to become popular. Generally, what happens today is, a particular song is played in the background while the “singers” lip-sync to it and “musicians” pretend to play the instruments. Majority of people, who go to watch the melodies, are in an intoxicated state and do not realise that it is not a live performance. They just go to enjoy young women dressed in skimpy clothes dancing provocatively. There is no melody, only nautanki!

Do you think that the quality of mainstream Odia songs has gone down over the years?

These days, we don’t listen to songs, we watch them. Music is secondary, dance steps have become more important. Earlier, the lyrics were beautiful and meaningful. But now, they add random words that are incomprehensible. Those songs do not have any impact and are worth zilch. So, connoisseurs of music have plugged their ears to keep the noise out of their life.

lHow do you view investments by mine owners in the Odia film and music industry?

It’s a good thing. Forget about the quality of films and songs, the investment at least provides livelihood to many artistes.

You struggled a lot to be what you are today. How much was your first earning and how much do you get paid to perform these days?

The first time I got paid for singing was in 1962 at a fund-raising event for the armed forces. At that time, I could not play the harmonium well and struggled to hit the right notes. I did not even have enough songs to perform for two evenings. But I managed to put up a good show and earned Rs 80. Today, my fee varies depending on the place and organising party. On several occasions, I have also performed for free.

You said you could not play the harmonium or sing to perfection. Are you not a trained professional?

I am a trained singer, but I don’t use the word “professional”. These days, professional training means stabbing the guru in the back to rise in life.

You have also trained many aspiring singers. Has any of them tried to stab you in the back?

Yes, despite the fact that I have never taken any money to train them. But there is no point talking about it now. Earlier, teachers used to be revered and worshipped like God. Today, they are taken for granted. It has become a fad to criticise your guru. This kind of attitude is most prevalent in Odisha.

Your son, Mahaprasad, has also chosen singing as his profession and you have both performed together many a time. Do you think he is doing well?

Yes, he gets many invitations to perform in various parts of the country and abroad. I feel happy when we perform together. He says my presence inspires him. So, I accompany him to many of his events. He has got several offers from Mumbai but he doesn’t want to settle there.

You belong to Puri, which has produced several great artistes. What is it about the place that breeds so much creativity?

There is definitely something special in the soil of Puri, but like any other place, it has many black sheeps as well. I must tell you that all the well-known artistes have been able to become what they are today by moving out of that town.

Awards in creative fields, be it art, music, dance or literature, have always been a controversial affair. In many instances, deserving persons have been ignored. What would you say about this?

The tradition of awards should be discontinued. I agree that there is some amount of politics involved in this but not always. I have won best music director award eight times, which is a record. If people say I have lobbied for it, I don’t want to defend myself at the risk of appearing guilty.

What do you feel about chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s apparent Odia language handicap?

He is a literary personality. I don’t understand how he has not been able to learn Odia despite ruling the state for 15 years. IAS and IPS officers learn the language in months. I think he is deliberately avoiding learning Odia to avoid being close to the people.

The ancestral house of legendary singer late Akshay Mohanty in Cuttack faced the threat of being auctioned after a nationalised bank served a notice to his family members, who defaulted in repaying a loan. Then the district administration decided to organise charity shows to raise funds to save the property. Do you feel that the state government should have been more proactive in this case?

Why blame the government for each and every thing? Are we artistes dead? I don’t support the idea of doing charity shows or going door to door begging for funds. There are many private individuals in Odisha who swim in money. We could request them to come forth for such causes.

Revered singerlOne of the most revered singers of Odisha, Prafulla Kar, 74, was born and brought up in Puri

• After he lost his father at a very young age, he was raised by his grandparents and maternal uncle. After completing his graduation in economics and political science from SCS College, Puri, he moved to Cuttack to pursue his postgraduation in law from Madhusudan Law College

• His career as a professional singer took off in 1960 and after a brief struggle, he established himself as an acclaimed composer and lyricist for All India Radio.

• He has composed music for more than 70 Odia films. He hold the record of winning the best music director award eight times. He was also awarded the best playback singer for Balidan in 1978

• Though music has been his passion, he also harbours a great interest in painting, creative writing and cooking.

• His son, Mahaprasad Kar, is also a well-known singer