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By Kaustav Goswami | March 2, 2009
Sidhhartha Bhattacharya – Exclusive Interview
Percussionists have played a significant role in the arena of
Indian Classical Music ever since the days of
Ahmed Jaan Therakuwa,Ustad Keramutullah Khan, Pandit Shamta Prasad followed by
Ustad Allah Rakha, and his illustrious successor
Ustad Zakir Hussain. Bengal has produced some of the most talented tablists
like Pandit Jnanprakash Ghosh, Kanai Dutta, Pandit Shankar Ghosh, Pandit Swapan Choudhury , Pandit Anindya Chatterji and gen y heartthrobs like
Bickram Ghosh.Yet there are musical geniuses who have consciously opted to be accompanists and choose to remain withdrawn in their microcosm of music, away from the arclights.
Following the footsteps of his revered guru, Pandit Shankar Ghosh Sidhhartha has groomed himself as one of the most sought –after tablists in the recent times and is an indispensable presence at all Rabindrasangeet soirees. A vivacious, jovial yet extremely dedicated musician, Sidhhartha is going places with his percussion wizardry and has already established himself as one of the A-grade accompanists of Tagore songs. Gaanmela.com presents an exclusive interview with this amicable personality,where he has spoken his heart out on his musical journey, the present scenario of tabla and music as a whole.
Siddhartha-Bhattacharya
1.Sidhharthada,how did your journey start?
Ours was a music loving family. My father was a connoisseur of Indian Classical music and Rabindrasangeet. He was a strict disciplinarian, and ensured that both my elder brother and I concentrate on studies and pursue an extra-curricular activity, which we were fond of, instead of dabbling in various fields. My elder brother was a disciple of Smt.Suchitra Mitra, so from my childhood my ears were trained in Rabindrasangeet, but somehow rhythm attracted me , and I decided to learn tabla. Father was vehemently against my learning tabla, as in those days tablists didn’t enjoy the status they enjoy today. But I was also very rigid so, my father took me to Baanichakra and I started learning under the tutelage of Pandit Anil Roy Choudhury. Along with this, my studies continued; I used to study at South Point and my father was always very particular about the fact that I should complete my studies and get into a decent job, as is demanded by all middle-class Bengali families. My first job was as a Computer teacher at Carmel High School, Madhupur and afterward in a C.B.S.E school. Tabla was my passion, and I never gave it a thought of taking it up as a profession. It all happened accidentally.
2.How did the accident happen?
It was the year 1991, I started playing tabla professionally courtesy the eminent Rabindrasangeet exponent Smt.Pramita Mallick, whom I consider to be my mentor, didi, whatever you may call it. I met her at a get- together in a musical family I was associated with, where ace classical singers like Ajoy Chakraborty, Arun Bhaduri, Rabindrasangeet singers like Debarati Shome used to come and perform. Pramitadi had given me her number and asked me to contact her, after listening to my accompaniment with Dipak Rudra. But,I am very introvert and was extremely hesitant to call her up. But,when I finally called her up, she asked me to join her school. That was a turning point in my career—-had I not met her, I might not have been in this profession.But I never asked her to give me a break at any of the so-called prestigious soirees. I believed in destiny and it so happened that after a performance at Rabindra Sadan, Late Ramadi (Rama Mondal) asked me to accompany her. I started playing with her regularly and even Biplabda (tablist,Biplab Mondal) told me that she insisted that I accompany her instead of him. Thats how it started and touchwood, I didn’t have to look back.
Pratima-Mullick-with-Siddharta-Bhattacharya
3.There was a time when tablists were called tabalchis—but now the scenario has changed,how far has Zakir Hussain contruibuted to this?
I would say, two people have their contributions, my guruji, Pandit Shankar Ghosh and Zakir Hussain definitely. But my guruji took the initiative during the early 70’s that the names of the accompanists should be there in the inlay cards of albums. You will notice that in the albums of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan,the name of my guruji appeared for the first time.He thought that the amount of input vocalists had to put in was no way less than the rigorous practice a tabaliya had to undergo. Later, Zakir also had his due share of contribution undoubtedly.
4.You have established yourself as an accompanying artiste, why not as a soloist?
See, first of all, the subject I play has got certain limitations. I have learnt pure classical instrumental. Now tell me, nowadays, so many classical soirees are organized, how many solo tabla recitals are there? Moreover, I didn’t want to perform with pure classical vocal or instrumental, because I had no plans of taking it up as a profession, as my father was opposed to it. Pure classical players embark on this plans right from their childhood, as they hardly devote time to their studies and spend nearly 14- 15 hours in riyaaz.
Kavita-Krishnamurty-with-Siddharta-Bhattacharya
5.You have accompanied top-notch artistes starting from Kavita Krishnamurty, Rama Mondal, Pramitadi Rezwana Bannya, to present generation singers like Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta, Srabani Sen. Do you get the same freedom from all the artistes. I have seen, your chemistry with Srabanidi is unusual, it creates magic on stage. How is it so?
Very good and relevant question. First of all, no, I don’t get the comfort zone from all artistes as they often tell me to take patterns they are accustomed to. With Srabanidi, the magic or whatever you may call it happens because of the musical proximity we share. This can only happen when your mental wavelength matches with someone. I have been playing with her since long back. Naturally, our rapport is such that a movement of her eye tells me what she wants.
6.You have been going abroad since many years,do you have any interesting anecdote to share with us?
Yeah, I have travelled abroad with many artistes. Last year, I went to New Jersey, where Shyama was performed. But this time I went to Italy, where three musicians were invited. It was an honor for me. Pramitadi, Subrata and I. Subrata, as you all know is a very good friend of mine and is an extremely gifted musician. This was the first time that a Rabindrasangeet soiree was organized in Italy and what was more interesting, Mozart had stayed for two weeks in the cottage where we had put up ,and had donated his violin and some of his staff notations.It was a life time experience.
7. Siddharthada,what is your take on the experimentations with Tagore?
I don’t understand why these so called, self-proclaimed innovations draw crowd. Its very unfortunate that even the senior singers do not raise their voices. Singers should not outstep their jurisdiction once they are considered icons. Rabindranath is like matter, it can neither be recreated nor destroyed.
Rapid fire with Sidhharthada
Ustaad Allahrakha/Ustad Zakir Hussain : Ustad Zakir Hussain
Choutaal/Teental: Teental
Intelligence/Humour: Intelligence
Rabindra Sadan/Kalamandir: Rabindra Sadan
Uttam Kumar/Soumitra Chatterji: Uttam Kumar
Satyajit Ray/Tapan Sinha: Satyajit Ray
Mridanga/Pakhawaj: Pakhawaj
Vilambit/Drut: Vilambit
Bickram Ghosh/Tanmoy Bose: Both
Solitude/Crowd: Solitude
Siddhartha’s favourite
Colour: Red, maroon, orange, any bright colour
Author: Tagore,Charles Dickens,Bibhuti bhushan Banerjee
Films: Dr.Zhivago,Uttam-Suchitra hits,Gone with the wind,QuoVadis
Actors: Rajesh Khanna,Suchitra Sen,Uttam Kumar.
Singers: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi,Kishore Kumar,Asha Bhonsle,Lata Mangeshkar,Manna Dey,Mukesh,Hemanta Mukherji,Shreya Ghoshal.
Instrumentalists: Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan,Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Raag: some rare ragas like Palash Kafi,Maand,Charukeshi.
Dress: Punjabi
Cuisines: Mutton,Fish(bhetki,aarh,prawn),octopus sausage
Taals: Mattataal,Chartaal ki sawari,Panchamsaw
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- Pandit Abhijit Banerjee – Exclusive Interview
- Purabi Dutta – Exclusive Interview
- Sreeradha Bandyopadhyay – Exclusive Interview
Topics: Interviews | 3 Comments »
Comments
April 20th, 2009 at 8:18 am
suva nababarsha….valoacho?
June 11th, 2009 at 11:06 am
contacting Soon.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:11 am
the interview of siddhartha bhattacharyaa is excellent.got to know many things about siddharthada with whom me[sudeshnasanyalrudra], and bishwaruprudra has performed a number of times.best of luck to siddhartha da.