Prasar Bharati takes steps to 'immortalise' maestros

Prasar Bharati takes steps to 'immortalise' maestros

Prakash Kumar, New Delhi, May 19, 2014, DHNS:

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/408152/prasar-bharati-takes-steps-039immortalise039.html

Source: Deccanherald

Doordarshan, AIR asked to make biographic series on eminent artiste

The Prasar Bharati is set to embark on a project to immortalise over 60 maestros like Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and veteran playback singer Lata Mangeshkar along with their 'signature performances'. PTI file photo

The Prasar Bharati is set to embark on a project to immortalise over 60 maestros like Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and veteran playback singer Lata Mangeshkar along with their “signature performances”.

The public broadcaster has asked Doordarshan (DD) and the All India Radio (AIR) to make biographic video and audio series on the life and contributions of these eminent artistes, taking their interviews.

In a directive issued recently, the Prasar Bharati also urged the DD and AIR to record “lecture-demonstration” series with these unforgettable maestros as they would have “many things to share and impart to present and future generations.”

The move comes following a recommendation made by the Prasar Bharati Board in its meeting held in the second week of April this year.

The list of legendary artistes ear-marked for the archival series project include the names of noted Hindustani vocalist Kishori Amonkar, Karnatic vocalists M Balamuralikrishna and Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, composer M S Viswanathan, Karnatic flautist N Ramani, Sarangi player Ustad Sabri Khan and  Mridangam maestro T K Murthy.

Many of these legends were honoured as “national artistes” by the public broadcaster in 2004, while others were later recommended by the Prasar Bharati Board for being bestowed with the honour. Recordings of these iconic music artistes for the purpose of archives will be done simultaneously by the DD and AIR to ensure that the high-quality video and audio content is available to be aired by both of them.

The public broadcaster has asked the authorities to plan shooting of the performance and interviews of the artists keeping their health conditions in mind. “The artistes would be recorded, as far as possible, wherever they are based,” the public broadcaster advised.

The Prasar Bharati Board proposed that the artistes  be offered a consolidated fee of Rs 1.5 lakh for each recording, since the public broadcaster would own not just the broadcast rights, but also all other rights on the audio and video content prepared for archiving.