Kumar Mukherjee

Mukherjee performing at the memorial for his guru, Shankar Ghosh

Kumar Mukherjee (born 1970) is a Hindustani classical music vocalist. He also specialises in Khayal, Thumri, Ghazal and Sufi Kalam, in addition to classical Hindustani music.[1][2][3]

Early life

Mukherjee was born in Kolkata, India on 2 July 1970. His father, Kajal Mukherjee was a footballer who played for India for 15 years. His mother, Suvra Mukherjee, has been one of the guiding forces behind his musical pursuits and is a retired businesswoman of an MNC. Mukherjee was educated in La Martiniere Calcutta and later received an M.A in English language from Jadavpur University.[1]

Musical training

Mukherjee started his musical training in tabla from Pandit Shankar Ghosh of the Farrukhabad Gharana. The importance of finding a guru led him to Ustad Munawar Ali Khan Sahib. He started taking his talim from Sanjukta Ghosh, a disciple of Ustad Munawar Ali Kkan Sahib, who was the son of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahib, a doyen of the Kasur Patiala Gharana, who was also known to be the Tansen of 20th century. Apart from Ustad Munawar Ali Khan Sahib's tutelage his mother, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, wife Begum Alla Rakhi, better known as Ammaji, has an influence on Kumar's gradual development as a performer.[1]

Raagreet: His Musical Organisation

Mukherjee`s own organisation Raagreet, which trys to promote the art of Hindustani Classical Music forward by educating the younger generation about this art, and teaching them,organising workshops ,annual concerts and giving his students a platform where they can showcase their talent.

Mukherjee as an evolved disciple of Ustad Munawar Ali Khan Sahib, and then a Hindustani Classical Singer, comprehended his responsibilities to the society with the concept of a music school. To him, apart from a subject of entertainment, classical education through music will help the young generation to focus, and be disciplined, making a society of accord for the future.

The school takes care of a musician-in-making, by developing the most critical aspects, putting them into different areas of importance.

- Mastering the facets of Gharana & Gayaki. - Developing & Matching the Pronunciation & Diction of different regional languages, and dialects. In extremeand special cases – language classes are conducted. - Practicing the art of listening to music that has link with the Gayaki, the student is following. -Maximum stress is given on the practical execution of train, to make it performance and result oriented. - Ethical behavioral on-stage presentation, including dress code are honed to fullest extent. - The school gives an environment of Gurukul to stay, live, and inculcate the essence of the Gharana, and its treasure.

Through this structure of mentoring, Kumar Mukherjee has created many well-known emerging talents of the recent time. To name a few, Sayak Bandopadhyay ( Bengali playback singer in Chalo Paltai, Necklace, and Kagojer Bou and a part of Friends of Fusion and Lakkhichhaara bands), Abhijit Burman (playback singer and a part of Cactus band) are his disciples. Moreover, a number of other young talents are making their way remarkably in the world of music under Kumar’s tutelage, following the ideals of his music school. This reflects the matured vision of Kumar Mukherjee to escalate the pattern and structure of his school and mentoring to a bigger picture.

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.kumarmukherjee.com/biography.html
  2. ↑ http://www.hindustaniclassical.com/maestros/kumar-mukherjee
  3. ↑ http://bentertained.bkhush.com/dev/content/rising-star-kumar-mukherjee

Discography

The Rising Star (1 CD)

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