Sitar maestro of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame urges Goa to embrace traditional instruments

Panaji: The ‘Between Strings’ concert at the Monte Music Festival on Friday demonstrated the importance of preserving and innovating upon traditional music to ensure its continued relevance in a rapidly changing world.
Speaking on the importance of conserving traditional music, the renowned sitarist Asad Khan stressed the need for Goan musicians, especially ghumot percussionists, to engage with local festivals and audiences to ensure that traditional music retains its abiding freshness.
“Travelling all over the world, we lose our grip on tradition, on authenticity,” Khan said. “If I were born in Goa, there would have been a certain authenticity and traditional values I would have grown up with. This needs to reflect in my music.”
Khan cited his work on the award-winning film, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, with A R Rahman as an example of successfully modernising traditional Indian music while maintaining its essence.
The opening night of the Monte Music Festival witnessed a captivating musical recital by Khan and Portuguese guitarist Ricardo J Martins who brought together the soulful melodies of the Indian sitar and the melancholic beauty of the Portuguese guitar.
At the festival, Khan seamlessly blended Indian ragas with Portuguese rhythms, showcasing the versatility and richness of both musical traditions. Martins, in turn, contributed his virtuosity to the performance by creating an unexampled soundscape.
Khan expressed optimism about the future of traditional music in Goa, acknowledging the state’s appreciation for classical music.
“The basic idea is to keep cultures contemporary, modern, and traditional and give them to the audience, so the next generation gets inclined and interested in it,” he said.
The Monte Music Festival is being held from Jan 31 to Feb 2 in the courtyard of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, Old Goa.