`Indian tabla players more popular abroad`

Kolkata: The tabla, a key percussion instrument in Indian classical music, is gaining in popularity across the world and players are respected globally, whereas the trend in India is reverse, leading tabla exponents said here Friday.

Maestros Swapan Chaudhuri and Samar Saha highlighted the fact that tabla, a prominent accompaniment in Indian classical music, contributes equally to music.

"It (tabla) is all over the world. Be it mobile apps or live music, its popularity is going up," said Chaudhuri.

"It is as important as any other instrument and people globally respect and recognise tabla artists. But in India, it is not so," said the director of percussion at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California.

He was speaking on the margins of the Dover Lane Music Conference announcement. Chaudhary will perform solo at the annual festival Jan 23, 2015, here.

Chaudhary, recipient of the Indian government's Sangeet Natak Academy Award, said the scope of tabla goes beyond Indian music and that has added to its appeal.

Echoing Chaudhary, Saha lamented that names of tabla players are sidelined in performances as just accompaniments.

"Be it solo or accompaniments, tabla holds its own and forms the basis of live performances. It shouldn't be ignored," appealed Saha, a regular at the conference.