Photo: Star

Arts and Entertainment featured celebrity singer-musician, multi instrumentalist, actor, painter and writer Rahul Ananda in the monthly “Ask Away” series this month. Rahul Ananda sportingly responded to questions that came his way:

Shristee Rahman: Besides performing on stage, what do you enjoy the most about touring cities across the country?

Rahul Ananda: Most of all I study human behaviour, their expression and queries. Apart from that, changing landscapes en route give me inspiration.

Sahnawaz: How long must one practice to learn flute? Where can I get flute designed by you?

Rahul Ananda: There is a similarity between a  flute and a human being: they have 10 outlets. With the closing of any one of them, human being turns laash (corpse) while flute turns as baash (bamboo). One needs to practice at least two hours a day to learn the flute; but if you want to reach higher, you require at least eight hours of practice a day. It is difficult to measure someone's level of understanding and feelings towards the instrument. According to someone's physical size and respiratory range, one should choose their flute. I make flute for myself only.

Farheen Hassan: What is your future plan for Joler Gaan? What media do you want to express yourself more?

Rahul Ananda: We never make music for albums only. We compose and perform music with passion, considering the taste and love for our fans. All poems are not poems; all songs are not songs. We plan to record only those songs that appear to be music-worthy. Whatever my creative faculties are, I focus on music. I would like to be a performer and all my perseverance revolves around music.      

Humayun Kabir: Can a person devoid of melody play an instrument or render a song?  

Rahul Ananda: There is no one in the world devoid of melody. A great musician can depict the melody that is unheard and unsung. A dedicated musician meditates to tame the melody that is unexposed or unrevealed.

Tawfiq Imam: When and how did you start collecting musical instruments? What are your most prized collections?

Rahul Ananda: I  inherited a harmonium, a flute and a conch from my family in an early age. At one time I discovered my passion and sense of collecting and playing various instruments. I have three special instruments in my collection: a dotara once played by Shah Abdul Karim; another dotara, once owned by Ukil Munshi and an indigenous flute, designed by indigenous people from Bandarban.