Brij Narayan has the answer—"It is wrong to place the instrument above the musical form. In the classical Indian realm, music is superior to the medium that transmits it. I purposely chose the sarod because I knew I would have an edge over others who play this instrument. I am adept at the sarangi and at the art of playing ragas typical to the sarangi on the sarod. This ability is wondrous. It adds to both the family and my own repertoire."

In Chandigarh for a recital during the Bhaskar Rao Sangeet Sammelan, Brij Narayan talked about the philosophy of music and the need to dissociate it from all that signifies corruption. Having played the sarod in films like "Mai Tulsi tere Angak Ki," he can't but lament the levels to which film music has deteriorated today.

>He says, "Indian music is not being played in our films any longer. These are some songs which hurt more than they please. We, as keepers of tradition, are traumatised because such songs are being played at every corner of cities. It is upon the listeners to sift the chaff from the essential lest Indian music gets a bad name."

A regular visitor abroad, Brij has been playing at the best locations in the world. And each of his presentations has been hailed by connoisseurs of music. Rubbishing the myth that foreigners know little about Indian classical music, he says, "They know more than Indians do. They have learnt to respect music, notwithstanding its roots. But they never settle for anything less than the best. Whenever I have played abroad, I have been astounded to see halls bursting with music lovers. In India we sometimes have to play to empty walls."

A firm believer in the nuances of guru-shishya tradition, he says he has been actively participating in the functioning of Pt Ram Narayan Foundation, Mumbai, which offers scholarships to deserving students. "At the foundation we only teach sarangi," he says, admitting that it is not always easy to live upto the expectations of people who come to listen to a legend's son," he says.

"One has to fight for one's space," he says, adding, "I have worked hard to prove myself as a musician worthy of my salt. I am happy India now knows there is more to sarod than Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons.