Angira Kotal
Domain: Hindustani Vocal Classical | Vocals | Music Education | LIVE Concert Performance
Genre: #IndianClassicalMusic #SemiClassical #Ghazal #MusicEducation #Vocalist
Location: India
Journey
GIFTED WITH EARLY EXPOSURE TO RICH MUSIC
Born and brought up in Kolkata, West Bengal, Angira Kotal started her Hindustani vocal classical music lessons from her mother Smt. Ratna Kotal, who was learning music from Shri Chinmoy Lahiri and his children Pandit Shyamal Lahiri and Vidushi Mandira Lahiri. So, Angira had her early training in music for almost twelve years, under their guidance and musical influence, so she could sing chhota khayal and bada khayal with ease.
As years passed by, Angira would accompany her mother to listen to the Wednesday recitals at ITCSRA, she was deeply inspired by listening and watching the scholars who performed at the recitals. Also, she would regularly attend and enjoy the overnight classical music concerts in the city. In essence, Angira loved Hindustani classical music, enjoyed the experience that she witnessed at various concert performances and developed a sincere eagerness of learning the art form.
So, it was decided that she would enroll under the guidance of someone knowledgeable & senior in this field, and her mother happened to get the contact of Late Pandit Biresh Roy. She received enriching taalim from him, which immensely benefitted her in the subsequent years.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES WITH GUTSO!
However, music training was not continuous for her because of academic priorities, although she continued her formal training under Late Pandit Biresh Roy and subsequently under Ustad Jainul Abedin, while she completed a Graduate Diploma with Distinction in Economics from University of Essex followed by a Masters Degree with Merit in Economics from University College London.
Angira participated in a music competition held in the UK, organized by Milapfest, UK and supported by Arts Council England, and won the title “Yuva Sangeet Ratna, Young Musician of the Year Award, 2013. She received the award from Rakesh Chaurasia, who praised her singing style, with the right amount of poise and command on the Raag that she presented, and inspired her to continue her pursuit of the rich performing arts.
VALIDATION FROM LEGENDS AND CONFIDENCE OF WINNING
During the award ceremony on stage, Rakesh Chaurasia clearly mentioned that Angira demonstrated all elements that are needed for a classical presentation, in her performance.
This winning moment was the impetus that gave her the courage to return to India with the much-needed confidence to pursue music, as a full-time artist. So, she returned home, and wanted to focus into acquiring more depth in her singing, and get a professional orientation for stage performances. Therefore, she enrolled for classes with Pandit Omkar Dadarkar, from Gwalior gharana.
Angira had noticed his singing, from her early years of listening to his Wednesday recitals, and admired the structure of Raag music presentation that he presented, and which Angira wanted to learn. Currently, Angira is a dedicated disciple and says the taalim from her Guru has helped her improving her performances in leaps and bounds, as she practices the art with her innate scientific temperament, while also exploring the emotive essence of Raag music. By understanding the logic of presenting Raag music, in her taalim now, Angira has also been able to develop her unique style of performing Raag music.
PERFORMING, TRAVELLING, TEACHING, AND MORE
Eventually, under the thoughtful and pragmatic guidance of her guru, Angira Kotal evolved as a professional performing artist, and has won the Pratima Chandra Memorial Award (2018) in Khayal and Thumri and has performed in prestigious platforms such as Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra (Kolkata), the Doverlane Mini Conference (Kolkata), Hamsadhwani Youth Festival (Lucknow) and more. She continues to perform at notable platforms that celebrate Indian classical arts, while she also tutors young practitioners of the music, and strives to take forward the legacy of Hindustani Classical Music both in time and space.
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