A new book brings the stories of Indian music legends to life in a unique way

An illustrated panel depicting Pandit Ravi Shankar from the book

How does one capture music visually? The newest title from the Amar Chitra Katha stable, Musicians of India: Ragas and Rhythms captures this facet in a colourful, vibrant palette that marks the publisher's evolved approach to a new generation of comic readers.

Reena I Puri

Featuring stories of 15 musicians - from Pandit Ravi Shankar to Ustad Zakir Hussain and Asha Bhosle, to Bangalore Nagrathnamma, and Chris Perry - the book traces the journey of their passions. Visually diverse, and with an effective narrative, these stories are given further context by special pages on Carnatic, Hindustani music, instruments, and historical contexts i.e. the Gramophone era. Editor -in-chief Reena I Puri elaborates further about the process.

Excepts fromt the interview

The book has prominent names such as Pandit Ravi Shankar or Ustad Zakir Husain, but it also includes lesser known stories like that of Shahir Sable or Chris Perry. What prompted it?
We wanted to go beyond the Bharat Ratnas. For instance, Chris Perry is someone who might be known in Goa, among jazz singers, but few outside that world know him. The idea of Amar Chitra Katha is to highlight not just the known heroes, but the unknown ones too.

The passing of Asha Bhosle during the making of the book prompted a special tribute section

What was the more challenging part - theanecdotes or explaining the music?
Shakti Bharathi, the project manager, began with the stories first. Also, music had to be explained to children. We wanted to show the children how these legends learnt it, and how it felt. The notes for different artistes were given different patterns to show how they visualised the flow. The writers worked closely with the artists, many of them first time collaborators.

That explains the slight variations in the illustrations…
We did not want to stay in the old mould, but did not depart entirely from it. It was a tight balancing act.

The illustrators used different styles to denote musical notations. For instance, Bhimsen Joshi's notes were illustrated with the motif of the lotus. Pics, Illustrations Courtesy/Artists; Amar Chitra Katha

How do you choose which anecdote to build their story around?
We concentrated specifically on their childhood; to explain to children that you grow into this status.

Is this part of a new vision?
Yes. The next series is on scientists; particularly women scientists.

Has your approach to stories changed with every new generation of readers?
We still continue to tell the stories of India. The only thing that has changed is perhaps that we choose subjects that the current generation finds relevant.

If so, what concerns today's generation?
They are very interested in the environment and changemakers. A Salim Ali, or Jim Corbett are people we are now writing about. We have done a series on Dhyan Chand, but we are looking at another set of sports people as well.

Available At all leading bookstores and e-stores
Cost Rs 749 onwards