Loaded with Potential an Emerging Talent Somaranjan Chakraborty

The name of the instrument is Chaturangui. The last syllable ‘gui’ relates the origin of the instrument. Yes, the slide guitar is the root of the instrument. The transformation of the instrument began in the hands of Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra. Kabraji’s disciple Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya kept the process going. The final result of the transformation in Debashishji’s hands has been named CHATURANGUI.

Somranjan Chakraborty is a leading disciple of Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya. His emergence has strengthened the spread of the instrument among young people. Somranjan is showing great promises of becoming a global level classical musician. With a solid base of talim, Somranjan’s strength is his ingenuity in the core process of improvisation. His temperament is remarkable.

Somranjan’s style blends delicacy and charm but at the same time is not devoid of the strength that can etch a permanent notch in the hearts of his listeners. It was at the tender age of four that Somranjan came to make music his first love and from then till now there has been no looking back. Somranjan was lucky to have been born to a musical family and thus imbibed the traditions of

music from his very environment. He received training from Shree Dhiman Sen and Shree Asish Bhadra. Ultimately he became the pupil of Pandit Debasish Bhattacharya. Under the aegis of his guru he received training for a long twelve years. Such nurturing, very much in compliance with the Indian Guru Shisya parampara has helped greatly to develop his budding talent. He is now acquiring the knowledge of Chaturangui and raga illustration.

Recognition for a talent of such order was not far seeking. Somranjan Chakraborty has received national award of scholarship of the government of India in 2000-2002. He has also received the topmost position in several competitions throughout the country. Somranjan has performed his art solo in music concerts of great acclaim like the Bharatiya Sanskriti Samsad, Kolkata, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur Memorial Foundation Thane, West Bengal State Music Academy Kolkata. Sangeet Natak Academy,Guwahati etc…

Somranjan has also played along with his guru, Pandit Debasish Bhattacharya in several music concerts like Mridangacharya Nana Sahib Panse memorial Samsad, Damoh, Madhya Pradesh;Bhatkhande Music Collage, Lucknow, Dakshini SangeetSammelan, Kolkata. Etc. Such a musician is worth the music lovers’ appreciation and his relentless efforts shall keep alive and enrich the glorious traditions of Indian classical music.

Tabla accompaniment came from one of the enigmas of the art of rhythm Biplab Bhattacharya.