‘Raj Kapoor’s favourite musical instrument will disappear’

ENARADA, Bengaluru, November 30, 2014

Jeena yahan, Marna yahan, Iske siva Jaana kahan  (You live here, you die here, Where else one can go), lines from  the super hit song from the movie ‘Mera Naam Joker,’ is now applicable to Raj Kapoor’s favourite musical instrument ‘Accordion,’ which is set to disappear from the musical world.

M.B.Prakash, one of the few Accordionists in Karnataka, speaking to Enarada.com said instrument used by legendary Raj Kapoor to create a signature tune in all his films, is vanishing due to cost factor, non-availability of the instrument and lack of teachers.

“The instrument is non-electronic and requires serious practice. The average cost of a professional model of accordion is 6 lakhs.There are no good quality instruments and no one to tune or repair when and if needed,”says Prakash.

M.B.Prakash along with his students Sanjeev ( IT professional)  and Ravi Benne (Businessman from Fragrance industry) performed Accordion Trio, today in the Bengaluru Harmonica & Reed Instrument Festival-2014 , organised by The Bengaluru Harmonica Club, at Gayana Samaja. The trio got a standing ovation from the audience for their brilliant performance of foot tapping music, from international hits to Hindi film song, Jeena yahan, including Walzer Nr 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich, Blue Bell Polka a folk dance, Maltese Polka, Celtic folk music and Sing little Bird.

M.B.Prakash plays Accordion at ITC Windsor Bangaluru in Bengaluru every evening.

M.B.Prakash (centre) playing ‘Accordion’along with his students Sanjeev and Ravi Benne, at the Bengaluru Harmonica & Reed Instrument Festival -2014. Photo: ENARADA.COM

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kaushik Mukherjee, Chief Secretary of karnataka, inaugurated the event, gave performance and participated actively in the program throughout the day. He is seen interacting with M.B.Prakash, Ravi Benne and Sanjeev after the trio gave a wonderful performance. Photo:ENARADA.COM