Defining Samuel J. Dass as a sitarist would be of great disservice to an individual who has added immensely to the expansion of Indian music in Malaysia. The two honours that he snared at the Cameronian Arts Awards last month – for the best composition and live performance categories under his Indo-Anglo band Prana – is a belated recognition much deserved.  

Dass remains one of the legitimate winners of the Cameronian awards. But there are more pressing issues that have fouled the euphoria of gaining his first ever awards in 32 years of playing – primarily the assistance to amplify the scope of and sustain his music. Dass’ chief ire is the apathetic attitude from the radio and television channels towards musicians in Malaysia.