Elegance and Musical Musings
Conversations with
KAUSHIKI
CHAKRABORTY
A classical performing artist not only needs thorough understanding of the music form, but
should also carry a divine aura with their presence and elegance. The combination of musical
expertise along with spiritual aura is something quite rare at a scenario when classical music is
fading away in the currently paced up lifestyles. Another important aspect of a brilliant classical
performer is the constant innovation of performing, and also displaying tremendous control over
the rendition. By being so strong in the musical foundations and techniques, along with adding
one’s own interpretation of the music form (? ?) One such magical performer is the ever smiling
Kaushiki Chakraborty , the daughter of legendary Hindustani exponent Pt. Ajay Chakraborty.
Her tremendous balance of singing, experimentation, and understanding of Hindustani classical
music is quite exemplary for years to come. She has got admirers all over the for not just her
flawless classical renditions but also for her unfaltering smile and presentation skills during the
live performances. We bring you an exclusive conversation with the magical performing artist:
Hello Kaushiki.. it’s a pleasure meeting you!
Hi.. Thank you so much.
Who are your earliest influences in music in vocal
or instrumental, apart from your father?
Well, I started learning music from my mother when
I was a child because my Dad was very busy with
his own career development. I had my mom around
me spending lot of time. She was a huge admirer
of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. As a child, I
remember listening to the radio along with my mom.
Till date, it is musically perfection personified. I don’t
know whether I can call it influence of admiration
which I had for their timbre of voices, or their
versatility. I haven’t heard any other singer like Asha
Bhosle who could own any genre of song. Lataji and
Ashaji’s names were regularly heard in my house in
childhood. I used to listen to Lata ji’s Bhagavad Gita
on cassette, and memorized it like a piece of music.
What are the raags that are yet to be explored by you?
There are many such raags which I am yet to explore.
There were certain raags which I haven’t learnt or
performed. The other side to it is, I want to revisit the
raags which I haven’t focused much on. For example, I
have been performing Multani for many years but when
I revisit it after long time, a new dimension comes out.
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