Didgeridoo

What did Geri do?

Geri did nothing ! Nor did anyone else do. It's a didgeridoo! It is the instrument that Shankar Ehsaan Loy used in his latest movie sound track, Dil Chahata Hai. You might be wondering how does this instrument with such a strange name sound like. Well, contrary to its rhythmic and musical name, it sounds very different.

Also known as the 'didjeridu' or the 'didjiridu', its origin is known to be from one of the 'down under' group of islands. It is known to be originally from Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. Many believe it to be the world's oldest instrument. Being a wind instrument and a simple one at that, a Didgeridoo is made from the limbs and tree trunks hollowed-out by termites, which gives it the characteristic low- pitched sound. One has to have tremendous lung power to blow right into it to produce the resonant sound and the complex rhythms. The average length of this instrument is approximately 1.3 meters. Used mostly as an accompaniment to chants and songs, it was used mostly by the aboriginals of Australia.

Now you would be wondering why is this antique instrument, given so much of coverage all of a sudden? Not only because it was used by Loy, but also because this rare instrument is soon going to be available right here, in this city! The internationally known Bhargava Musicals would be the first official distributors of this instrument in India.

Mr. Govind Bhargava, the owner of Bhargava Musicals says that Mr. Peter Spoecker, the well-known player of this instrument, was on a look out for an appropriate market for his instrument, when a well-wisher from America who happened to know The Bhargavas, recommended their company for the same. The Bhargavas were contacted via email and the family, became the official introducers of this wind tube to India and the world. The Bhargavas' family is known to have dealt in musical instruments since the year 1949; They now boast of a full fledged company with a range of sections, which include the manufacturing sections, the export section, retail section and the import section. They also have retailed outlets all over the country. They are the only dealers in India who are to import The TAMA's Drum Set.

Their list of clientele includes personalities like the great Ustad Aamir Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Girija Devi, Siddheshwari Devi, the legendary Allah Rakha Khan, his well-known son Zakhir Husain, Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Shiv Kumar Sharma to name a few. Their website is called www.indianmusicals.com

They are also known to have four to five exhibitions every year for the propagation of Indian Art. The Xaviers College Mumbai and Sydhnam host these exhibitions where a hundred variety of Indian instruments are displayed for eight days. "In 1985 The Japanese Association invited us to demonstrate and exhibit Indian Instruments. But the main purpose of our activities is not just exhibition, but to educate the younger generation about our Indian culture, and our main motive is to help music and musicians"

Kamakshi Vyas