For classical music aficionado Viren Desai, just listening to maestros didn't whet his interest in the genre. "For years, I would hear these masters at concerts, baithaks and festivals... The more I listened to them, the more my curiosity to know the person behind the music grew," he says. "Their persona on stage, the adulation they received from their listeners completely overshadowed the real person, the one I wanted to get close to," says Desai.
The Mumbai-based photographer set out on a mission to capture the lives they lead away from the arc lights. Fortunately, not only did he get the opportunity to meet them, he also got to personally interact with 22 of them.
He first approached Ustad Zia Mohinuddin Dagar and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia who agreed to let Desai capture them off stage. Thus began the start to a 25-year-old journey that culminated in a 288-page book comprising 150 colour photos and 130 black and white photos.
In 'The Grand Maestros Of Indian Classical Music' (as the book is called), Desai has also included anecdotes culled from the lives of the artists.
"Ustad Bismillah Khan reminiscing about the unforgettable taste of his mother's gobi ka sabzi (cauliflower curry)... Ustad Amjad Ali Khan worrying about his wife getting upset when I moved his living room furniture to set up a shot...this journey has enriched my life," says the photographer.
After investing a quarter of a century, Desai decided to appeal to music lovers in India to help him publish his book. With the help of crowdfunding site fueladream.com, he was able to raise Rs 11 lakh to publish and print the coffee table book (one can still pre-order the book on the site mentioned above). Here are some beautiful black and white photos that Desai shared with HuffPost India from his book:
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi with his beloved Mercedes Benz. He was a great lover of cars, and loved to take long drives.
A portrait of Vidushi MS Subbulakshmi - she always made a striking statement with her beautiful nose rings and bindi.
Vidwan Dr M Balamuralikrishna looking on indulgently as his grandson explored the Mridangam.
Pandit Ravi Shankar caught sharing a light moment with his wife Shrimati Sukanyaji.
Vidushi N Rajam conducting a teaching session with her disciples at The Banaras Hindu University.
Ustad Zakir Hussain with his father Ustad Alla Rakha, reciting a taal.
Panjit Jasraj performing at a concert at the Indian Music Group baithak at The St.Xaviers College in Mumbai.
Vidwan TK Murthy enjoys a walk on a beach in Chennai with his grandchildren.
Pandit Ram Nayaran sharing a playful musical moment with his granddaughter.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with school children in New Delhi, explaining the nuances of Indian Classical Music.
Pandit CR Vyas in the Green Room of Rang Bhavan, Mumbai.
Vidwan TH Vinayakram accompanied by portraits of his parents Shri Kalaimaamani T. R. Harihara Sharma and Shrimati Neelambal.
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