A Sell-out’s Accord

It was an important day for Tamal. He was finally going to meet the investor for his big break and if everything went as per the plan, might even sign the contract for his debut album. Yes, the investor’s proposal was a little too commercial to his liking! Yes, a larger part of the album cover would be consumed by the logo of his brand earning him a sell-out tag! And yes, he would have to mould his style a little to make his songs “palatable” for the mass; but finally, thanks to this investor he would get a chance to be called a professional singer. He can always find his way back to his own style! but for now, money is the bigger issue. After all, what has he ever achieved by clinging to his rudimentary ethics!

For the past eight years, he has been trying to shake off the tag of an amateur singer without leaving his roots behind; but nobody in the industry has agreed to launch his semi classical - hard metal fusion songs. Praised his talent in talent shows, called him brave or even an innovator but no one came forward to give the initial boost that his career needed. Apparently, his style did not go with the “image” of the company! There is no harm in being a little commercialised if that’s what it takes to gather some funding for his big launch.

This investor at the initial meeting had promised him to take care of the entire process of the launch, given their name and slogan is incorporated; of course subtly; in some way or the other in each of the songs. Two years back when the proposal was first made, after him winning a nationwide talent hunt, he was enraged at the thought of selling his music out like this; but as the time passed and the tunnel towards hope kept narrowing down, the offer seemed to appear less outrageous. Six months ago, when the investor reached to him again with the proposal he had to succumb to those demands. After all, he could not keep Ria waiting for ever. She had been struggling with him too, for the past eight years.

They started together with so many hopes and promises, but with the passing time, keeping the promises got harder and harder. She stayed beside him in thick and thin, well mostly thicks, without any complaint or demand. Two years ago when this investor gave the offer for the first time, and Tamal rejected it without a slight consideration she was supportive of it, cause she had known him long enough to know that he couldn’t act otherwise. That his passion and understanding of music would not allow him to yield to the market forces. She never blamed him for her hardships; but it is no secret to Tamal that in the past few years, several times, she had to face the wrath of her short tempered, highly abusive father because of her failure in settling down. She has been supporting Tamal, and not just morally, for a long time now. More than half of her salary goes to meeting his needs. However, as the time flew across, her spirits crumbled further and on. Therefore, six months ago, when the investor approached him with the same offer, he had to take it.

It was not just about the launch either, the investor promised to use his songs for the company jingles and arrange to run them at least twelve times a day in the 24/7 music channels for the first six months after the launch. It was a huge chance for him to be popular, to be the public-favourite. Music albums are released every week in the market, hardly any get this much exposure. So what, if he had to make a few compromises, if it ensures that he no longer gets called an amateur singer, if he gets to settle down with Ria and take charge of his own life and happiness. 

The meeting was arranged at the restaurant of an esteemed hotel. There was not much to be said or done at the meeting. The investor came with the contract, as previously decided. Tamal gave it a quick read and signed it, he knew that he was not in a position of bargain. As they shook hands and Tamal turned towards the door to leave, he saw a boy approaching the table. From the appearance he seemed like a teenager to Tamal, the investor’s next words confirmed his suspicion. With a bright welcoming smile, he said, addressing the boy, “You’re right on time! Come here boy! Let me introduce you to Mr. Shastri! I guess you already are familiar with his name due to the singing reality show that he won.” Then turning to Tamal he said “Here Mr. Shastri meet the latest finding of our company, I can tell that he is going to be the teen sensation of next year; as a matter of fact we plan to launch both your albums next year.” He stopped for putting Tamal’s contract into the bag safely and then continued, “Don’t underestimate him for his age, this boy here is nothing less than a genius. You should hear him fusing Indian classical with jazz.” “He is brilliant!” the investor said with twinkling excitement mingled with pride in his eyes, “We are proud to be the ones paving his way to the industry. If we don’t give these young talents a chance then who would! After all, we are known to encourage the unique talents of our artists.” He seemed to be very proud of the fact that the company would manage to show its support for the individual artists and their artistic liberty through the launch of the boy. On his way home, Tamal wondered, was it possible for him to get the treatment that the boy received. He kept playing the entire account in his mind, as if stuck in a loop, searching for the cue about what he should have done differently to be at the position of the boy.  

Both the albums released the following year. Tamal’s record received maximum reruns in the radio and 24/7 music TV channels. It broke records of being played, maximum, in pubs, stage shows; though the jingles rather posed the threat of making the songs offensively over-promoted but they also brought the songs household familiarity. In contrary, the boy’s album received all the praises for its brilliance and uniqueness.

Unlike the praises that critics sang of the boy’s talent they butchered Tamal, called him a worn off talent and tagged him to be a sell-out. Nothing negative was said about the company that launched the albums. All this time Tamal kept questioning himself, exactly where did he go wrong! Why could he not get what the seventeen-year-old managed to milk from the investor and his company! Could things be different had he waited longer? Could he wait longer for the right opportunity, had he not been so consumed by the guilt of being unfair to Ria? In such occasions, he would console himself thinking, at least he no longer is an amateur singer, incapable of catering to the promises that he made to his partner and himself. At least his diary is full for the next five years. At least his royalty from his album ensures that they would not have to face financial insecurity ever even if he never works again. At least he could finally provide Ria the long due exemption from humiliation and violence that she regularly faced. Most of the days it would be enough to sooth his regrets, while the others, he would spend blaming and cursing the investor… and consequentially his fate!  

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