Prior to the festival, media representatives were invited to a press conference where Malahat and Sharif Awan shared their views regarding the uplift and revival of classical heritage of Pakistan. Images on Sunday took the opportunity to speak to them.

Q. What initiatives are you taking to promote the cause of classical music in Pakistan?

Malahat Awan: Tehzeeb projects include festivals and specialised recordings of eminent artistes of Pakistan and India. We are also giving away awards in the discipline of Urdu prose, Urdu Poetry, fine arts, classical music and Pakistan’s folk music.

Q. How do you see yourself different from other forums that have been presenting classical music and performers?

MA: While all others are doing very well, we at Tehzeeb make sure that there is a qualitative difference every time. Our programmes are specially designed and devised to offer something new every time. As a result, our festivals are comparable to any international concert/recital. We also assert on decorum and discipline by the audience in our festivals which is required for this genre of music.

Q. How do you see specialisation serving the classical music artistes besides the audience?

MA: The idea was well received. This was the first sitar festival in Pakistan and we plan to have similar specialised programmes in future to break away from stereotype, predictable formats.

Q. How does the Tehzeeb Foundation contribute to the cause of classical music artistes?

SA: Our artistes are fast becoming an extinct species and they need our support in order to survive. Our musicians — even the living giants of the tradition — have suffered from a tragic lack of attention from the modern recording industry, resulting in a deep void of professionally recorded, world-class classical music and their profound art. The musicians are exposed to poverty and adversity. As compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world, who are pursuing classical music through artistic endowments and sales of their records, Pakistan’s artistes are often forced to support themselves through menial labour. But they continue to compose and perform and that genius is our heritage, something that we at the Tehzeeb Foundation aim to preserve.

Q. What do you think obstructs the flourishing of classical music in Pakistan?

MA: Rigidity of our classical musicians is one root cause. We have been instrumental in convincing them to think out of box and fuse recent developments in the field of music into their art. We think collaboration between different genres of music and collaboration between different artistes is imperative for our classical tradition to become relevant today.

Q. Our youth are apathetic towards classical music. Comment.

SA: They are highly interested and inspired as far as the taal is concerned. However, they need more exposure to the nuances of traditional music. Our festivals attract many young listeners.

Q. What efforts are you taking to discourage piracy?

MA: The recordings that we produce are legally documented. Our artistes duly sign contracts with us, and that’s how we claim that our music is a legally exportable commodity. As far as our productions are concerned, we will only be too happy if someone or some company copies them and distributes them because we are not in it to make money. — Shahzeb Shaikh