[aloke]

PEOPLE WHO CRITICISE ME ARE JEALOUS’ --

But this in no way stops Kabir Suman from pursuing his first love — music. The musician tells Zinia Sen that he’s modest and believes in living his life to the fullest

Q.How does it feel to be an icon?

• Icon? Am I one? Well, I don’t know about it. But yes, I’m grateful to music, which has given me my identity. I’m not just a singer, but also a professional songwriter and musician. I’ve also written for other singers like Indranil Sen, Lopamudra, Swagataluxmi, Anjan Dutt and Sabina Yasmeen among others. I consider myself a common and modest musician. The fact that I can make a living out of music makes me happy.

Q.But the commoners do consider you to be the father of jibonmukhi songs…

• Whose brainchild is the word jibonmukhi? I don’t even know what it means. If one has to categorise my songs, it’s better to call them modern Bengali songs. I first came across the word jibonmukhi in a Nachiketa album that was released probably in 1993. By then, I had made a mark. My songs are just modern numbers. They’ve got nothing to do with the term, jibonmukhi.

Q.What about criticisms? Does it ever bother you?

• Critics are those who don’t like certain things. Yes, many have sneered at me, but I feel it’s mostly out of jealousy. For some unknown reason, few people are always jealous about certain things in this world. I’m content with my music and am happy that it’s appreciated.

Q.Do you think the message that you wanted to convey through your album, Nandigram, has reached the right ears?

• I can’t say much about that. The turn of events in Nandigram and Singur over the past one and a half years, stimulated me to react against the atrocities of the CPI(M) government. All I’ve done is commented on this in my own way.

Q.Do you think such comments help the cause?

• I don’t claim such a thing. In Nandigram, people are struggling to save their land. As part of the cultural world, I’m only being supportive. I’m not going to sit and dissect whether my songs have been of any help to them. I have done what I could.

Q.But the album can rarely to be found in music stores…

• No comment.

Q.What happened to your acting career?

• I’m a musician, not an actor. But I’ve done small roles in films and megaserials. I’ve also acted in the play Somudrer Mouno, directed by Kaushik Sen. If suitable roles come my way in the future, I would take them up. Right now, I’m not giving it a thought.

Q.So, what’s keeping Kabir Suman busy?

• New songs. Very few know that I do the tuning and orchestration of my own songs. There’s also another album that I’m working on, called Rizwanur Britto.

Q.Did you follow the CBI report on the Rizwanur case?

• As a songwriter, I don’t have the temperament to go by facts all the time. I’m a musician — I react to certain things through my music.

Q.You are 59, going on 60. How’s life at this stage?

• At this stage of life, most people I relate to are no longer there. I’ve made new acquaintances and I’m trying to bond with them. I’m also realising new things and smiling over them. At the same time, I’m aware of my limitations and incompetence and I’m ready to accept things which I haven’t accepted earlier. I’m more relaxed and looking at life more lovingly. On the whole, my life has been wonderful.

source : Times of India ( Calcutta Times, February 18, 2008 )