Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, the god-gifted singer who emerged as the pride of the entire nation, was not just another musician but creator of immortal tunes and melodies that still remain evergreen. Even today, we often debate about whether he was a better singer or a music
Nasal voice, faulty pronunciation, not fit to be recorded….that’s how S.D. Burman, the prince musician from Tripura’s famous Bengali clan and one who went on to create musical history in Bollywood, was rejected. The above verdict was passed by none other than HMV after Burman’s
Debdutta Gupta & Partha Dasgupta In the myriad world of classical music, Bishnupur Gharana has since long made its presence felt and left an unforgettable mark. It has an identity of its own, that is completely unique, devoid of the influence of other classical gharanas. Bishnupur
It was a summer evening in 1955 and three youths -- a Bengali, a Frenchman, and an Englishman -- were busy finalizing a road trip to India from London. Over the next six to eight months, they would travel 12,000 miles in a battered milk
For all those who are die-hard fans of Rabindrasangeet of any genre, must have heard often the melancholic or upbeat string beats of the Esraj. Tagore’s songs brilliantly embody the poet’s very own perception of life and death, Nature, God and eternal pathos of humanity
Rabindrasangeet has a universal appeal and is not an exclusive domain for Bengalis. Tagore’s compositions have reached all corners of the world and have been widely accepted as a specific genre of world music. People have been attracted to his music despite their inability
If you have read the book ‘SD Burman: The World of His Music’ by Khagesh Dev Burman, you will come across several incidents that highlight the father-son relationship of SD and RD Burman. Both were legendary musicians in their own rights and no doubt the
Every time our mothers or grandmothers sat with their harmoniums to sing, one name often popped up, carved intricately on the wooden frame: Dwarkin. Much later, scale changer harmoniums made their way into Bengali households and names like Pakrashi & Co found their presence. But
Percussionist Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead had once said, “A good groove releases adrenaline in your body. You feel uplifted, you feel centered, you feel calm, you feel powerful. You feel that energy. That's what good drumming is all about.” Well, Georgina Haque, the first Bangladeshi
India’s first disc had Gauhar Jaan, singing a khayal in Raag Jogiya, recorded on 2 November 1902, by Fred Gaisberg, an assistant to Emile Berliner, father of gramophone records. The recording was done in a makeshift recording studio in two large rooms of a Calcutta hotel, and at