Ringing the doorbell of this woman felt like visiting a friend’s place. She opened the door herself and asked us to make ourselves comfortable. We could smell the coffee brewing in the kitchen that she offered us. But we were so wonderstruck of having the opportunity to be sitting with her, even coffee lost its charm! This woman has a connection with music that is so deep, that all her roles are somehow related to it in one way or the other. Donning the hats of a celebrated singer, well-known actress, self-made entrepreneur, avid speaker, musician, and composer, we introduce you to Vasundhara Das (Read Vasundhara Das Biography).
Music runs in my blood
Music is a very important part of my family. Be it any occasion, from celebrating a birth to mourning the death of a family member, from pooja to party, music has been a part of it all every single time. My father’s mother and her sisters were heavily influenced by Hindustani music, where as my mother’s mother and family were fans of Carnatic music. So music runs in my blood from both ends.
I grew up in a musical family. My grandmother would frequently invite musicians to perform Baithaks in our living room during family get-together. She also ran a music school on the top of our house. My parents are also big-time music buffs. This whole musical environment is probably the reason why music is so heavily ingrained in my life.
Singing for the first time
When I was 6 years old, my grandmother pulled out a harmonium one fine day and called me and my elder cousin, Sanjay. She asked him which kind of music he would like to learn, and he answered Hindustani classical. Then she asked me, and being a kid, I just went with what Sanjay said. We started training that day. I continued, but he quit after a week or two! (laughs)
It’s very important to have pushing parents at a young age, because you’re too young to understand the importance of pursuing something. It’s easy to get distracted, and the first 3 to 4 years of learning music is crucial. After the initial training from my grandmother, I joined the Lalit Kala Academy. Later on, I went on to study music with Pandit Parameshwar Hegde, who has been my Guru since then.
I got booed off the first time I sang on stage
I joined Mount Carmel School mainly because they had a very active music association. The audience in this school is very discerning. They can boo you off the stage and be very brutal at that! (laughs) The first time I sang on stage, I forgot some lyrics and started making my own tune. When I got off the stage, I had no idea what I had done. I got booed off. They wanted to mess with my head since I was a fresher and a prime target for seniors then. They got me!
A week later, I went on stage again to perform western vocals. My mum was in the audience. After the first experience, I had learned to not let them get to me. I focused hard on the song at hand and gave it my 100%. That day, when I finished singing, there was silence. People had forgotten to clap for me, because they were totally engrossed in the song. It was then followed by a huge round of applause. I’ll never forget that feeling. It’s one of my most treasured performances.
Music as a career choice
I almost ended up joining an engineering college. I was in the queue for the CET counseling with my mum. I was restless throughout that time, and was not myself. My mother observed this and asked me what was up! She asked me if I was sure about engineering. I was surprised and told her that I thought that this was what she wanted me to do. And my mother coolly replied that she wanted me to do whatever I wanted to do. I immediately told her that I don’t wish to join any of these colleges. She asked me if I was sure, and when I nodded, we just dropped out of the queue and left!
I took a year off from studies, and that year never ended! (laughs)
I got to work with some best people in the music industry purely by chance. When A. R. Rehman wanted me to try a song he had composed called Shakalaka Baby, I sang it. I remember calling my mum and telling her that this is a song very different from any song I’ve ever heard. I told her that this would either be a real big hit, or no one would talk about it ever!
Entrepreneurship happened after I met Roberto
There are some things that are in your blood, like music. I have the same timber of voice that my grandmothers do. But in terms of entrepreneurship, it was something that just happened after I met my husband, Roberto. My dad is an entrepreneur too, but I caught on to that bug from my husband. I started to explore new possibilities to do different things that could relate to the core of who we are, that is musicians. So whatever the business is, it’s something to do with music.
Drumjam
This is actually Roberto’s baby. What we do in Drumjam is form a drum circle with a group of people. Each one gets to play a percussion instrument or a drum together. It’s a real activity you can do without getting distracted by the virtual world. You’re in the real world for those few hours experiencing human contact of the deepest nature. It destroys the hierarchy for that duration and makes everybody an individual. Each person is able to communicate with another at the same level. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a CEO or a watchman of the same company. The social background, gender, nothing matters!
Since each one of us has a heartbeat, we have a universal sense of rhythm. That latent sense of rhythm is what we help you discover in Drumjam. That’s our job, to help you discover your innate rhythm and help you remember that child inside of you that isn’t inhibited to do anything , that isn’t afraid to try anything new! The drumjams are differently designed for different groups. It’s goal oriented and depends on the rhythm.
You get to communicate in a way that you’ve never done before without uttering a single word. From seven CEOs in a drum circle for 3 hours to around 8000 people at the same time, the metaphors delivered in these sessions are different, but effective. As a gift back to the society, we decided to do the community Drumjam every month for the city of Bangalore at the Rangoli metro station. It’s completely open to the public.
The Shah Hussain Project
When I met Mir Mukhtiyar Ali, we both were of the same opinion that we are these links in a chain who maybe able to take something that’s existing in our culture as part of our heritage, and pass it on to those who don’t know about it. Most people who grow up in urban areas are not in contact with their heritage, be it poetic or literature. We’re caught up in virtual lives. The need to be on FB or Tweet!!! But one fine day, you’ll try to find reality in all this, like a wake-up call. And for me my reality is music.
We used to have long drawn conversations about these ancient poets. We decided to work on Shah Hussain, because he has so much to say, and is no less than any other Sufi poets. But in India, there is not much consciousness about him. It was a pleasure to work with his poetry, because he’s one of those poets who wrote to a meter, to a rhythm. For a musician this is very attractive. It works, its beautiful! The fact that what he wrote 500 years ago, is relevant even now, makes it timeless.
Favorite among my songs
Shakalaka Baby – Always special because it kickstarted something that I really wanted so badly.
Tum Se from The Shah Hussain Project – Ignited a different part of me that I had forgotten. It reminded me that I was capable of writing music myself.
It’s the time to disco – My biggest hit, which took me places I never though I would go to.
Hey Ram
Really special, debut, new beginning!
Music
Everything
Acting
Happy diversion! Totally accidental! When people asked me to act the first few times, I would just laugh. My acting in Hey Ram was the first time ever!
Drumjam
Connection. Something that helps me reach into myself and reach out to everyone. Helps me share my musical spirit.