Raghu Dixit
Why a lungi- and ghungroo-wearing troubadour from Mysore could become the face of contemporary Indian music
Today instead of newspapers, Raghu bases songs around Indian and Kannada poetry and literature. Two tracks (”˜Gudugudiya Sedi Nodo,’ ”˜Soruthihudu Maneya Maaligi’) reinterpret the work of 19th century Kannadan poet Saint Shishunaala Sharif, while Rajastani folk-flavoured ”˜No Man’ was penned with Hindi-Urdu poet Deepti Musley.
International audiences lap it up as Raghu regales gig-goers with the backstory of each track. His five-man band wearing bright lungis, and beads, come across as a hippy-ish bunch you might stumble across jamming around a fire, on a Goan beach at 3 am. Raghu’s a powerhouse, live, sweeping you into an intoxicating mix of folk rock referencing blues, Sufi, Latin, reggae and bhangra.
Whether it’s music or in conversation Raghu wears his heart on his sleeve. If the thought pops into his head, it’s most likely coming out of his mouth too ”“ as the challenge with his college nemesis demonstrates, all those years ago.
There aren’t many musicians who would liken themselves to a farmer. “Where does my music come from if I haven’t learned traditionally? I’ll draw a comparison with the farmer in the field singing. We are untrained musicians, and singing because we love this expression, it’s innate.”
Similarly as we chew the fat on India’s incredible rise and searing growth, he urges caution. “Every developing country is blinded by the pace of globalisation and the idea we’re living in the best of times. There’s very little concern for the environment and future generations ”“ we’re killing the future of our children,” he says, shaking his head.
It’s apparent that Raghu’s not just an ambassador for India’s independent music scene but its young people. And a very powerful one at that, because he’s got the lot: Raghu’s a principled Indian making heartfelt music with mass appeal across continents, he’s a gifted singer and songwriter bringing Indian literature to a curious wider world, and a composer with an instinctive feel for easy on the ear melodies. On top of which he’s smart and an ebullient character that’s unafraid to say what he thinks.
Which is why this “triumph against the odds” motion picture, isn’t anywhere near finished. We might not even be at the intermission. There are more uncanny twists of fate to come and there is no way of knowing just how big Raghu could become. He has just signed his first Bollywood film, Mujhse Fraandsheep Karoge, being produced by Y Films, a division of Yash Raj Films. This summer will see him touring America’s East Coast, Canada, his album released in Australia and shoring up UK support summer festival slots and then perhaps he’ll think about recording a new LP. Quite literally, the world is Raghu’s oyster.
As we’re wrapping up, it suddenly occurs to me to ask what happened to the young man with long hair, baggy jeans and guitar, who made Raghu’s college life a misery?
“He’s now a priest,” says Raghu laughing. “You couldn’t make it up.”
