EXCLUSIVE: Tabla Maestro Bickram Ghosh Talks About Similarities With Taufiq Qureshi, Their Latest Album & More

Bickram Ghosh Exclusive: Tabla maestro Bickram Ghosh and Ustad Taufiq Qureshi's friendship goes way back! And when two music icon collaborate, the result is bound to be something unique, exploring new artistic expression while being a treat to the ears. Their latest music album, RamTa, meets all the expectations.

In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat, Bickram Ghosh talks about his similarities with Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, their latest music album and how it took 20 years to finally collaborate with each other officially.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

1) The last time when we spoke it was in December for Band Of Maharaja's Oscars contention. And I remember you said that your best work was yet to come. Were you hinting at your new album with Ustad Taufiq Qureshi?

See, RamTa is certainly one of the best. But again, coming back to the same conversation, if I say this is the best, then I have nothing left. It's all downhill from here. So, no artist wants that. But, certainly, RamTa is one of the best.

2) You have collaborated with a wide range of artists across genres. What was that one thing about this fusion album that attracted you the most?

One is the fact that both of us have an experimental mind and explorative mind. We both enjoy looking for new sounds, experimenting with those sounds, meshing cultures, and looking for something new, which is fresh.

Secondly, we have known each other for 20 years and each time we meet, we are threatened to do something. This time, things materialized and everything went according to the plan.

3) What has been the most rewarding part of this iconic collaboration with Taufiq Qureshi?

We've been doing a bunch of concerts of late for the promotions of RamTa. And in those concerts, we've really been pushing the line. And that has been so exciting and rejuvenating because when you are playing with somebody who is pushing your line, you have an opportunity to learn. You have an opportunity to push your own line and get better at your craft. So that is something I treasure very much through this association of RamTa with Taufiq Bhai.

4) There are multiple fusion music albums with contemporary sounds. What makes RamTa stands out among the rest?

I think anybody who is going to listen to RamTa will see that there is a lot of freshness to it. It's like something, it's a new kind of sound.

5) What was your biggest takeaway from this collaboration with Taufiq Qureshi?

It's the friendship. When you hang out together, you spend so much time together, you get to know each other really well. And one day, you realize that there's so much of common ground. And then you realize your opinions on things also match.