Q:You have worked with poets like Gulzar in Mirasim and Javed Akhtar in Soz. How was it working with the prime minister for Samvedna?
A: I selected six poems from his book, Meri Ekyavan Kavitahayen, which I could set to music. It took me two months to complete the project. They are all based on ragas. He told me the background to each poem which enabled me to compose keeping the sentiments in mind. He is a very simple person with no hangups. One can see his sensitiveness in his poetry. We are lucky to have a prime minister who is a poet.

Q: Were you overawed by the man?
A: Yes I was. We interacted at the level of an artist to artist. I found him very approachable.

Q: Aren't we overselling the prime minister?
A: I don't think so. Everyone has a creative side and he or she exploits it. In this case, the person happens to be our prime minister.

Q: Your voice carries a unique sense of pathos ...
A: It is called viyog. It is not my voice but the swars. If you are true to your swars, it creates that rasa. And what is truth ? It is God who is the truth. I try and do justice to the swars. But I am sorry the present state is deplorable. The visual medium has destroyed the purity of music. TV channels which need programmes to air have nothing better to show than these semi-clad girls dancing in videos which is very easy to produce today. Due to technological advancement, even untuned/besura voices can be made to sing in tune. Is that what you call music? It only excites you, it doesn't last.
The amount of money spent on videos is much higher than what is even paid to the artistes. Music has to be popular on its own merit. I started my singing career in 1965. We didn't have videos then. It was pure talent that made me popular and successful. And we were judged on music, not on the videos. Today, everyone wants to be a star overnight.

Q: Why is it so?
A: The youngsters are not interested in learning music the hard way. They want short-cuts and want to be monitored by machines. It is a shallow approach to music. Young stars these days are like two-minute noodles.

Q: What about classical singers like Sultan Khan and Shubha Mudgal who are singing Indi-pop numbers?
A: Yes, they have also been victims. Take the case of Shubha Mudgal. She is a confused person. Remember she has got fame through Indi-pop and not classical music. She should have focussed only on classical music which is her forte to make her voice more appealing.

Q: What's wrong in what she's doing? The route you are envisaging is a long-winding path?
A: Sorry. I don't agree. Take the example of Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan. He is a fine artist and he didn't need a music video, shake a hip, do anm Indi-pop number or even had to step out of the limits to attain fame. His tapasya has made him what he is today. Phal zaroor milega, pehle ache karam tho kariye. There is a time for everything. Have faith in yourself. I tell youngsters not to give up. Practise consistently and listen to good musicians. Guni jan ko sno.

Q: There seems to be one ghazal school of thought i.e Jagjit Singh school
of ghazals ...
A: I feel good that my approach to poetry and ghazals has proved successful and appealing but that is not the end. Someone has to improve on it. My music is simple and my songs are hummable. I have never been projected as a big celebrity or a pop star. Fans always have a love-hate relationship with the artist. And I am lucky that the hate part has been negligible. I don't believe in red-tapism, having a secreatry etc. I myself attend to phone calls, plan my travels etc. I also listen to other musicians and I want to learn from them. There is no stopping to the learning process. I don't want to have a frog-in-the-well approach.

Q: Do you prefer to compose in isolation?
A: No. Tansen, Baiju Bawra, Kabir never went to a jungle to compose music. An artist has to be social and feel the pulse of the common man. Then only, he can create better music.

Q: You have composed and sung bhajans ...
A: Yes . the album He Raj has become a phenomenon. When I sing I only see God as notes of music. And when my throat is in form, I am inspired to sing better.

Q: Why have you stopped composing for films?
A; I don't get any films. I have scored the music for Leela starring Dimple Kapadia and Vinod Khanna. Watch out for that.

Q: Filmstars are increasingly campaigning for the polls. Do you approve and do you have any plans on the political front?
A: No. I have no inclination and I am not joining politics. In fact, people who attend election meetings are basically coming for entertainment provided by filmstars. It is a false projection of filmstars.