Ajoy Chakrabarty

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty
Background information
Birth name Ajoy Chakrabarty
Born (1952-12-25) 25 December 1952
Origin Shyamnagar, West Bengal, India
Genres Hindustani classical music
(Patiala Gharana)
Occupation(s) Vocalist
Years active 1977–present
Website www.ajoychakrabarty.com

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty (Bengali: অজয় চক্রবর্তী; born 25 December 1952) is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist, composer, lyricist and Guru, poised nearly as a cult figure among all the legendary Indian Classical Musicians.[1]

Although considered a scion and doyen of the Patiala-Kasur Gharana (style), primarily representing Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Ustad Barkat Ali Khan sahibs gayaki, he can equally portray even the most subtle features of other major classical gharanas of India like Indore, Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior, Agra, Kirana, Rampur and even Carnatic music of South India.[2]

Recipient of national awards – Padma Shri (2011) - by the President of India, National Tansen Samman 2015 - by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh,[3] Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Delhi, 1999-2000), The Kumar Gandharva Samman (National Award, 1993) and the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1989- "For bringing the rare depth of emotion, adorned by his command on the classical idiom" in Bengali Film “Chhandaneer” 1989.[4]

Early life

Chakrabarty was born in Kolkata, West Bengal to Shri Ajit Chakraborty in a Hindu Brahmin family. He moved to India from his homeland, Bangladesh during the partition and raised two sons in Shyamnagar. His younger brother, Sanjay Chakraborty is a world class lyricist and composer.

He graduated top of his class in music, both in B.A and M.A from the prestigious Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata and joined the ITC Sangeet Resarch Academy in 1977. Being the academy’s very first outstanding scholar, he became their only gold medalist fellow, a member of their Experts’ Committee and a senior Guru where he still serves as a prime mover in all its promotional courses to date.[5]

His father, late Shri Ajit Kumar Chakraborty was his first Guru. After this Shri Pannalal Samanta and Shri Kanaidas Baigari were the ones with whom his initial orientation with music happened, before he was warmly accepted by the ultimate and the greatest Guru of all times, Padmabhushan Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. His training was then continued under Ustad Munawar Ali Khan (son of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan).[6]

Singing career

Ajoy Chakrabarty

Thus far, Chakrabarty has recorded over 100 albums, mostly published from India, the United States, Canada, UK, and Germany, composed of pure classical numbers including live performances and various other genres – Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and other devotional songs like Shyamasangeet and many Bengali numbers, including songs of Tagore and Qazi Najrul Islam.[5]

Inspired by the ideals of his Guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Chakrabarty founded Shrutinandan – A Music Kingdom, a musical institution designed to preserve and perpetuate the tradition of Indian Raga music. By the late 90s, he started to nurture young and budding talents in his music school, and it has since developed into a 1000+ strong body after a period of a decade and a half. Still today, every aspect of Shrutinandan, particularly the development of each student, is closely monitored by Chrakrabarty himself, along with a group of 35 teachers, personally trained by him. The success of his teaching method is demonstrated by his daughter and disciple Kaushiki Chakraborty, who is accepted globally as the torch-bearer of the Shrutinandan Concept and as an accomplished female vocalist. Along with her, Shrutinandan has produced a dozen other vocalists and instrumentalists of international acclaim in this period of time.[7]

Personal life

Chakrabarty is married to Chandana Chakraborty. Their daughter, Kaushiki Chakraborty is an accomplished vocalist of Hindustani classical music. Their son, Ananjan Chakraborty is a sound engineer and upcoming music director/producer.

Movies

Year Song Film Co-Singer Composer Lyricist
1985 Bela Jay Shyamrai Baidurjya Rahasya None Tapan Sinha Tapan Sinha
Nain Mein Nandalal Baidurjya Rahasya None Tapan Sinha Tapan Sinha
2000 Isaiyil Thodanguthamma Hey Ram None Ilayaraja Ilayaraja
Har Koi Samjhe Hey Ram None Ilayaraja Sameer
2001 Aan Milo Sajna Gadar: Ek Prem Katha Parveen Sultana Uttam Singh Anand Bakshi
2005 Yeh Kaun Mujhe Yaad Aaya Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story None Naushad Ali Naqsh Lyallpuri
Vaishnava Jan To Water Kaushiki Desikan Sukhwinder Singh Sukhwinder Singh
2011 Bhorer Alo Bhorer Alo None Jeet Ganguly Priyo Chattopadhyay
2013 Rabso Neha Laage (Bilaval Bandish Shunyo Awnko Kaushiki Desikan Gautam Ghose Gautam Ghose

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Sharma, Jyotirmaya (19 March 2005). "Ahoy Ajoy!". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Chatterjee, Guatam (5 August 2005). "Impeccable voice". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty". SouLSteer. 2015-12-25. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  4. ↑ "37th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Official Website of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty". 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Sharma, Jyotirmaya (28 April 2006). "In honour of Bade Khansaheb". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Official Website of Shrutinandan". 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Alva's Virasat off to a flying start". The Hindu. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.

External links

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