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On her own terms
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There's more to Durga Jasraj than just music. SAVITHA GAUTAM in conversation with the daughter of maestro Pandit Jasraj
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THE GOING can be often tough for children of celebrities, when they happen to choose the same profession. They are bound to be compared to their parents. Some learn the hard way and reinvent themselves, while the others keep trying. Durga Jasraj belongs to the first category.
Instead of falling into the trap, she has reinvented herself. By starting an entertainment company called Art and Artistes India Pvt. Ltd., which is into event management, TV software and producing devotional albums. And promoting classical and fusion music in the process.
`Tiranga,' an evening of music and poetry dedicated to the National Flag held recently in the city got the daughter of Pandit Jasraj all fired up.
Flag, a symbol
Why the National Flag? "I remember listening to a conversation between some youngsters, who had no clue about the real meaning of the colours of the Flag. It got me thinking. I felt the Flag is a symbol of what our nation stands for... it provides a common identity to one billion Indians. And it's time the next generation knew what each colour stands for," she says. The musical extravaganza, which has travelled all over the country and to London, began with a documentary made by Durga.
What was it like directing her father? "Besides being my father, he's also my guru. But he gives me the creative freedom. Initially, I would be scared of telling him what to do, what I wanted of him. But after working together for Utsav, the barrier broke and he understood my vision of things. Today, he takes pride in what I do, and that's very encouraging," she says with a smile. (Utsav is a 26-episode series shot for STAR Plus, which focusses on Indian classical music. It's expected to be telecast in the U.K., U.S. and Australia. However, viewers in India may not get to see it!)
Music and her Muse... with father Pandit Jasraj
As for the other musicians, "I have known them all my life. So it was easy to relate to them." She adds, "One person who has been a great influence on me, besides my grandfather and father, is Zakir Hussain. When we were kids, I remember spending a lot of time with him, playing cricket or travelling. I share a great relationship with him."
Thinking differently
Talking of influences, Durga singles out her grandfather, the legendary filmmaker V. Shantaram, as the man who put discipline into her life. "He was unconventional in his thinking and taught me to think just like him. I was very fond of him." She made her debut in acting and singing under his direction "for a Marathi film."
After a stint with television, films and modelling, Durga started Art and Artistes. "I remember the first event I handled. It was a Kargil football match. While Kapil Dev brought the cricketers together, I roped in Bollywood stars, including Mr. Bachchan. There's been no looking back since then," says this diehard cricket fan, who enjoys horse riding and mountain climbing, and loves listening to John McLaughlin's Shakti. The other event she holds quite close to her heart is the 13-hour non-stop classical concert, which was telecast live on Tara Bangla.
Model, actress, TV star and now event manager... what's the ride been like? "Life is full of ups and downs. You learn at every step and try to move on. I believe I am a special child. And I cherish everything I have. I am a deeply religious person and am drawn to Adi Sankara's teachings."
As for her future, producing a film may be the next frontier for Durga.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
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Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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