My Compelling Story

Born in Shillong in 1981 and currently based out of Kolkata to a family of three generations of distinguished musicians, Saptarshi Chakraborty inhaled music with his very first breath. Initiated into music by his illustrious grandfather, Late Radhika Ranjan Chakraborty, a close pupil of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore; and grandmother Late Asha Chakraborty who was the first female AIR artist of Shillong Radio, Saptarshi, since the tender age of five, has been training under his father, Acharya Sudip Chakraborty, the much acclaimed Sangeet Guru, principal of the Shillong Music College and an expert exponent of the Kirana and Kotali Gharana Gayaki of the Sangeetacharya Tarapada Chakraborty musical lineage. After having trained under his father for almost 15 years, Saptarshi went on to place himself under the tutorship of none other than Padma Vibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, the doyen of Mewati Gharana and the living legend of Hindustani classical music. Having spotted the immense talent, Martand Pandit Jasraj took utmost care in polishing Saptarshi’s skills as he believes that he has the required devotion and dedication to carry forward the strong traditions of the Mewati Gharana. For this fact, Saptarshi considers himself immensely fortunate which has transformed him into a more mature and humble artist. Saptarshi is an empanelled artist of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). A first class master degree holder in Hindustani vocal music from Rabindra Bharati University, Saptarshi has mesmerised audiences in the major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Raipur, Banaras, etc. Saptarshi has had the rare privilege of performing at the Kumbh Mela Mahotsav 2010 at Haridwar, where the artist lineup included the likes of Hema Malini, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, and Pandit Jasraj. Saptarshi has a solo album called Reverence to his credit, which has been broadcast from World Space Satellite Radio. This album has also received high acclaim for his performance. Apart from Bhajan, Khayal and Haveli Sangeet, Saptarshi is equally adept at singing Rabindrasangeet, owing to a musically rich family tradition. Blessed with a stunningly melodious and rich voice, the emotive, soft and spiritual approach of the Mewati Gharana forms the ethos of Saptarshi’s style of singing. However, he has been able to create an individualistic charm owing to his earlier training in the Kirana and Kotali Gharana styles, thereby lending a colour to his music which stands unique to him. A master at expressing and grasping the correct mood of a raga, Saptarshi’s music is at once arresting, full of sombre yet