Former Orissa CM turns composer

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

It might sound strange. But former chief minister of Orissa and senior Congress leader, Giridhar Gamang, is all set to compose music for a film soon.

"Yes, I will compose music for an Oriya film soon," Gamang said on Tuesday, November 28.

The film, Amoksha, has been written by eminent novelist Dr Prativa Ray and produced by Hemraj Films.

Gamang says, of his maiden attempt, "Oh, I am very happy about this!" He is probably the only politician in the country today who is also the music composer of a film. Earlier, he released two music albums and is likely to release three more albums in the near future.

"Music direction for a film is a very normal thing for me. After all, music is part of my life. I am not here to earn a livelihood, but to promote music," Gamang said, adding that he is here to promote music for love and togetherness of society.

While speaking to rediff.com today, Gamang said that he is eager to compose music for Hindi, Telugu and other regional films, too, if given the chance. "I will certainly compose music for a Hindi film if somebody approaches me," he said.

"Why not, I am ready to compose music for Hindi film for those who want my service," Gamang quipped, in reference to a question whether he had been approached by anyone from the Hindi film industry. He also said that he is no stranger to the industry.

Gamang is the only folk music composer after Bhupen Hazarika.

Here is one musician who is unwilling to mix modern, Western or any other classical music with folk music.

For Gamang, music is a passion, unlike politics. He strongly believes that music is a universal language understood by all. And it transcends all barriers of language, religion, caste, state and nation.

Gamang now spends time with his dhamp (drum) and kansa, tribal musical instruments which have helped him overcome the sad memories of the cyclone that devastated coastal Orissa during his tenure as chief minister.

Gamang's love for tribal music is natural. A tribal himself, he hails from Koraput, a backward patch of land known for hunger, starvation and migration. "I strongly feel that tribal music is the original music of the people because it evolved under the shadow of Nature," he explains.

He recalls how, from the first music programme at the Puri Beach Festival in 1994 to the latest a week ago, he has come a long way ."These days, my music troupe and I are very busy going from here to there for live performances."

This month, he performed at seven music programmes; he performed at five last month and there are three more programmes slated next month.

Last July, Gamang thrilled people with his folk music at San Francisco, at a programme organised by the Oakland Asian Cultural Centre. "I was astonished to see people in that part of the world dance to my tunes. My tribal music impressed them.

"It simply forced me to think that tribal music has scope to influence the audience outside the country."