Midival Punditz

Midival Punditz Karsh Kale

Back in 1997 Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj were bored and tired of the Bollywood- Remix type music which was dominating the scene in India. As a reaction to this feeling they began producing original electronic music and sending out demo tracks to labels and other producers.

Simultaneously, their monthly parties ‘Cyber Mehfil’ began growing in popularity and quickly reached a cult status. Artists and producers from the UK and US began noticing them, word began to spread and they came to be known as ‘The new sound of 21^st century India. It was only in 2000 that Six Degrees Records, home label of producer friend Karsh Kale expressed interest in signing them on. Since then they have produced extensively with Six Degrees records. In addition to three studio albums, a remix album and a compilation, they have been featured on over 50 compilations across the globe.

Midival Punditz

To really appreciate Midival Punditz and understand the magic at work, you need to hear them live. By picking up experiences from all over the world, they have mastered a unique art that is electronic but still has room for jamming, innovating and remixing. The end result: no two live performances of the Punditz are ever the same. The live performances are also featured with a video background which is synchronized with the music and also captures real-time images and clips of the band performing on stage. This unique live setup has been pioneered by the Punditz making their performances unlike any other electronic act in the country.

Karsh Kale

Being a predominantly self-taught musician, Kale was able to break rules at an early age as he began experimenting with different instruments and styles. His own ingenuity and experimental nature helped Kale in developing his ‘Electric Tabla’. As he grew he found himself working with musicians like Mocean worker, Robert Moog, DJ Spooky, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Amel Larouix, Bill Laswell. His studio savvy and original style kept him in demand to this day and he has recently done sessions for artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Yoko Ono as well as his longtime collaborators, the Midival Punditz.  Kale has, as of date, recorded on over 50 releases worldwide as a session musician.

As the 20^th century came to a close, Kale found himself inspired and began creating his own solo work and created his first self produced E.P called ‘Classical Science Fiction from India’. A nationwide tour with electronica legend DJ Spooky allowed Kale to spread his sound and also allowed his music to fall into the hands of the then upstart record label Six Degrees Records. After the label took notice, curiosity brought them to NY to witness more of Kale’s work.  Karsh Kale was immediately signed to a multi-album record deal, making him the very first Indo-American to attain a solo record contract in the states. Kale released ‘Realize’, his first solo international release in 2001 and it featured collaborations from Ustad Sultan Khan, Gigi and some of NYC’s finest musicians

Karsh Kale

In 2005 Kale began work on Broken English, which for Kale was a new direction in sound and musical approach. But it was time for him to flex his songwriting skills. Broken English, which is Kale’s first album predominantly set to English lyrics, boasts collaborations with vocalists like Trixie Reiss (Crystal Method), Sol Seppy, Dierdra Dubois (Ekova) and MC Napolean.  Kale also worked with artists such as sitar genius Niladri Kumar and the Mumbai Cinematik strings.

Around the time of the release of Broken English, Kale began collaborating with sitar visionary Anoushka Shankar. Their collaboration eventually turned into the 2-year project, which became ‘Breathing Under Water’ released in 2007.  For both Kale and Shankar, the collaboration proved to be their most ambitious musical venture to date.  Kale not only played many of the instruments but acted as composer and co-songwriter which allowed him to pen songs for the likes of Sting and Norah Jones. The album also boasts collaborations with Pt Ravi Shankar, Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Shankar Mahadevan and Sunidhi Chauhan and was co-produced by Gaurav Raina (Midival Punditz) and Salim Merchant.

As a film composer Kale has created music for crossover films such as ‘Chutney Popcorn’, ‘Ocean Of Pearls’ and ‘Indian Cowboy’. His music has also appeared in Bollywood hit films like ‘Fashion’ and recently ‘Luck’ and ‘Kambakht Ishq’. Kale’s music has also been featured on TV such as the HBO series ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ and ‘True Blood’. Karsh continues to share his musical vision with an ever-growing legion of listeners who continue to hold his music as paramount within the global music scene.

MPKK

India’s electronica pioneers, Midival Punditz (Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj) have teamed up once again with visionary composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist Karsh Kale to form their new film music production team Midival Punditz – Karsh Kale (MPKK). The trio will made their debut into the world of Indian cinema with their score of Farhan Akthar’s new romantic thriller Karthik Calling Karthik that released on February 26^th, 2010.

MPKK

Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale have worked together for nearly ten years now, producing each other’s music, performing together on albums and even touring the world together extensively. Recognizing their strength as a team, they have now formed their new production unit Midival Punditz – Karsh Kale (MPKK) to create music for film projects.

Their first foray into the world of film together began with them creating an entirely new background score to the 1973 Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon, which they have toured the world with. They recently completed the background score for Ajay Naidu’s independent crossover film, Ashes, which will make its debut in 2010. The trio’s filmography includes appearances on film soundtracks such as Monsoon Wedding, Closer, Chutney Popcorn, Kambakht Ishq, Fashion, Don and Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants II.

Karthik Calling Karthik, the much-anticipated thriller marks the first time MPKK have scored a major Bollywood film. Written and directed by Vijay Lalwani, the film stars Farhan Akthar and Deepika Padukone. Working as music directors has allowed Midival Punditz – Karsh Kale to explore the range and depth of their music influences; it allows them to step out of the realm of pure electronica and embrace a much larger soundscape. With this film, they have run a gamut of genres from a full orchestral set-up to rock and jazz to edgy electronica. Midival Punditz – Karsh Kale, as music directors combine a modern sound with a very classical approach; the Punditz bring a modern feel to the music utilizing electronic composition and modern soundscapes while Karsh Kale brings a more classical approach as an orchestral composer, pianist, guitar player and songwriter. The combination gives them great perspective as composers.

Karsh Kale and Midival Punditz continue to break new ground as artists and performers and tour the world with their genre-bending sounds. MPKK are poised to make 2010 the year that they are able to forge new avenues for their music within the world of film.

MPKK Performing

DID YOU KNOW
Midival Punditz

• Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj of Midival Punditz are childhood friends
• MP was the first electronic music act from India to sign an international album deal
• They’ve given music for video games like ‘Project Gotham Racing 3′ and ‘Need for Speed Carbon’
• They’ve also given music TV shows like ’6 Feet Under’ and ‘Prison Break’

Karsh Kale

• In his childhood he was inclined towards the drums and not the tabla.
• His father, a fan of the sound himself introduced him to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones
• He began his career in music while a student at NYU (New York University) where he studied music production and performance
• Kale collaborated with Zakir Hussain and Bill Laswell on a track called Milan (named after his daughter) which has now become one of Kale’s most requested works
• Two of the songs from ‘Realize’, ‘Distance’ and ‘One Step beyond’ are now included in the Microsoft Vista Operating System

MPKK

The trio is able to perform the entire score of the soundtracks they compose live; something they plan on doing with all their releases

MPKK - Live

The duo of Delhi boys Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj, better known to the world as Midival Punditz were till this moment regarded as India’s most acclaimed electronic act. After being featured on multiple international compilations and being the first electronic act to sign an international deal, the band rightly dubbed as ‘The New Sound of 21st Century India’ has added another feather to their cap, this time being the first Indian band to compose the entire background score for a Bollywood movie – in this case the Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’. This break into mainstream came with the assistance of likeminded producer and composer Karsh Kale, who is featured along with the twosome on a few tracks of the soundtrack album, mainly the remix version of the movie theme plus a hard rocking version entitled Kartik 2.0.

Karthik Calling Karthik

The trio stopped by Blue Frog in Mumbai on the day of the movie’s release, February 26^th, to give the eager audience a taste of what to expect. Cementing their reputation as one of the best live acts around, the MP duo stepped on stage to spectacular atmospherics, lights and images on screens flashing in tandem with the crowd’s excitement. Taking their place at pre defined consoles; they were accompanied by Karsh Kale on Drums and Tablas. The scene was set perfectly to display MPKK’s unique blend of Indian classical and techno.

Playing songs predominately off of their 2009 release ‘Hello Hello’, the MP pair along with their KK counter part had the crowd in their grasp from the get go. Starting off with a remixed version of the ever popular ‘Tonic’, the south Indian folk rhythms of ‘Raanjhan’ soon translated into the smooth club vibe of ‘Kesariya’.

Songs that followed were stand out tracks like the up tempo ‘Electric Universe’ and 80’s dance rock ‘Atomizer’ complete with an electronic vocal track and a gratifying crescendo.  Their versatility of sound with songs ranging from instrumental to electronic rock to orchestral soundscapes pioneered the sonic approach to music providing those in attendance a night to remember.

Article by Divya Srinivasan & Shikher Chaudhary
Images Courtesy: Shiv Ahuja, Rafique Syed, Gaurav Vaz