‘People have stopped reading, shayari is lost in books’
At a time when the music is driven mostly by trends, and rehashing old songs has become the norm, singer Kavita Seth remains unfazed by it all. She’s instead focused on putting the limelight back on forgotten literary art forms and artists. And this time, it’s the celebrated poet, the late Amrita Pritam, whose poems Kavita has adapted musically.
“I’m totally focused on promoting my project Main Kavita Hoon. It was my dream that I sing Amrita ji’s poetry. I completed that. Then we shot a video, too. I remember in my first concert, I had composed a song out of her poem Main Tenu Pher Milaangi. People asked me if there’s a recorded version of it. I then planned this,” says the 49-year old, known for songs such as Iktara (Wake Up Sid, 2009) and Tumhi Ho Bandhu (Cocktail, 2012).
In the digital age, Kavita is hoping that she will be able to use the very medium to promote this music. She says, “Main shayar aur audience ke beech mein ek bridge ka kaam kar rahi hoon. The songs have been released, and these type of subjects just need a push at the start. People have started listening to it... Those who are interested in it will also be able to find a way to hear it. Hausla badha hai digital se, kisi sahare ki zaroorat nahin hai.”
Kavita will pick a new poet each time for different chapters under the project and she is also doing a concert on this. “I’m also planning to start something on radio. This is a vast subject and I’m not able to decide what to leave out! People have stopped reading altogether. The real shayari is lost in books. So, I want that online, at least, they should read them. Gaane ke madhyam se register ho jaati hain aur yaad ho jaati hain,” she adds.