Cancellations of weddings, events: Light music artistes go out of tune

“Usually, musicians would play for different troupes and each musician would only be able to play in only five to six shows per month. Now, all the musicians and organisers are forced into unemployment. They do not know anything other than music. Most musicians do not even have savings. Without any savings, they have been caught off-guard,” Dhivyaraja Mazan, a musician who runs an orchestra troupe, said.

In the city alone, there are around 3,000 musicians and usually, the whole family would engage in the occupation. Except for those who have any part-time jobs or working spouses, they are financially struggling to cope up with the lockdown.

Mazan added that April and May are times when they get most shows. There would be Amman festivals all over the State during the period and many weddings in May. “We lost all the income this year. We never expected the situation to get this worse.” Mazan also regretted that he could not help his troupe members as he himself is struggling. “Our association has requested the State government to provide financial assistance to the musicians and they have promised to take measures. We are waiting for the government’s decision,” he said.

Manohar, an orchestra singer, expressed frustration that his entire family has been rendered jobless due to the lockdown. He said that his brothers and son are also musicians. “Recently, my son bought a keyboard. Now, he is unable to pay the EMI. He is an M Tech graduate and started performing for his passion,” Manohar added.

Musicians in the city also feel that the growth of DJ music hit light music as youngsters opt the former, where only one person performs. “Musicians playing instruments like flute, guitar, violin and trumpet have become rare. Only players of keyboard, drum and tabla are surviving,” he said.