Salil Bhatt is upbeat about creating a raag dedicated to ML Koser & his brand-new album SopaanIt's a tribute to the people who gave his life a direction, purpose and above all music and Salil Bhatt’s in a mode to give something back as a mark of respect. Creator of the Satvik Veena, which is made of a 100-year-old oak wood block and has 19 strings in all, is looking back with fondness and looking forward with hope. Melody’s on his mind and he’s happy that his veena is speaking in a new language, has a shine and inviting him to converse with her. “Sometimes personal loss inspires you to give more to your music. In a span of three years I lost people, pillars, who were an integral part of my being and had contributed immensely to my life. They live within me now. One of them was ML Koser, who dedicated 65 years of his life to music and Pracheen Kala Kendra was the first place to present the three generations of our family, my father Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, I and my son together. Our bond goes back a long way,’’ Salil feels this is the time he wants to dedicate some of his music to the people he respects and loves. So, at a concert to be held at Pracheen Kala Kendra on Saturday evening, Salil will present a raag which he has created and dedicated to ML Koser. “Called Koser Dhawani it’s to honour a great artist and human being. A musician has the power to immortalize someone and this raag will live on, long after I have gone and so will the name of ML Koser,’’ Salil agrees creating the raag was an exhausting and emotional experience, but at the same time a fulfilling one. The apprehensions about his veena sounding not herself are gone, for the music is piercing his heart and Salil is overwhelmed with the sounds, responding to them and is full of hope. “My new album, Sopaan means suron ko paana. It’s like a new baby and two of my favourite and rare raagas, Nat Bhairav and Puriya Dhanashri feature in this album, which is intense.’’ Let the music play.
