Sitar maestro Anjan Chattopadhyay was born in a family of culture and aristocracy, in Calcutta. He was brought up in an environment of soft, sweet and serene Indian Classical music. His elder brother Pandit Gourishankar Chattopadhyay is an eminent surbahar and sitar player who belongs to Senia Gharana.
His initial training in sitar made an indelible impression on Anjan’s mind about the depth of instrument in sound and melody. Simultaneously, he received initial vocal training from his elder sister.
Anjan started to feel the fragrance and the pulsation of life in music. He became more committed to his music and the advancement in sitar playing started rigorously under the tough guidance of his brother. At the age of nine, Anjan did his debut performance at a conference in Calcutta in 1969 with the appraisal of the critics.
As the days passed on, Anjan’s love for music grew more and more. To know and to get the ideas of rhythmic part of music he became disciple of the tabla wizard Ustad Shaukat Ali Khan. Bit-by-Bit, Anjan began to acquire knowledge of Indian tala system, which opened another world before him.
For advancement in the stream of sitar instrument he became a student of world famous sitarist Surasree Kalyani Roy, one of the senior most student of Aftaab-e-sitar Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, the trendsetter of modern days’ sitar playing .
Anjan felt his sitar must sing like a vocalist. Therefore he started taking lessons in vocal music under the tutelage of Shree Muktipada Dutta, a representative of Agra Gharana.
Anjan has performed in hundred of concerts in India and abroad. Wherever Anjan played he got huge acclamation and appraisal from his audience as well as from the music critics.
Throughout his musical career, Anjan has got numerous awards, recognitions and felicitations. In 1986, he was awarded the prestigious first prize in All India music Competition organized by the State music Academy of West Bengal Government.
Anjan has many albums to his credit.
Anjan also devekoped Sangeetpedia, The Encyclopedia of North Indian music, an interactive CD Rom format in association with the Academy of Indian music and Fine Arts and Aimrec.
Anjan is an arts graduate from the Calcutta University.
Discography:
Indian Classical Music Sitar (EBI)
Moods (Octave Music)
Sunset (Aim Records)
Monsoon Raga (Aim Records)
Raagmala (VMR)
Melodies for the Soul (Aim Records)
Eastern Visions (Aim Records)
Bliss (Musicultimate)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
