Arpan Bhattacharya
Domain: Harmonium Expert | Indian Music Educator | Hindustani Vocal Classical National Scholarship holder | Hindustani Classical LIVE Concert Performer | Digital Concert Performer
Genre: #Ghazal #Bhajans #IndianClassical #MusicLessons #IndianMusic
Location: Kolkata, India
Journey
Arpan Bhattacharya is a budding young musician from Kolkata. Initially trained in vocal music by Shri Asit Chakraborty, Arpan is perusing his taalim under Shri Anol Chatterjee, a senior disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. Arpan has already completed his Masters in vocal music from Rabindra Bharati University. Arpan has performed in a good number of music concerts not only in India but also in Europian countries like Germany, France, Sweden, Netherland, Switzerland and many more.
Though Arpan Bhattacharya is basically an young vocalist, yet he has developed a deep love and ability for playing and accompanying Harmonium. He regularly accompanies eminent vocalists of this generation.
A CHILDHOOD LOVE FOR RAAG BHAIRAVI
Raag Bhairavi is often considered a concluding Raag in many concerts, and there are many songs based on the Raag. At 6 years of age, when Arpan’s mother, Smt. Archana Bhattacharya, was learning Raag Bhairavi, from Asit Chakraborty, Arpan started singing along and humminng the tune easily, in perfect sur and taal. He was further inspired by his grandparents to begin a formal taalim in music.
DEEPER CONNECTION WITH MUSIC
It was a routine at his home that his grandfather would turn on the DD National channel on TV, which included Khayal genre of Indian classical music performances by Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and other legends of India. So, when he was learning the Raag music as part of his taalim, he could relate to these recitals on the TV that he had been unconsciously listening to. This inspired him to start singing KHAYAL. He would then make a conscious habit of sitting infront of the TV to watch those programmes in Khayal, Thumri, Dadra.
He would also listen to stories about legends performing at prestigious concerts, their tales of learning the art, and how artists would handle exceptions on stage during technical or logistics issues. Growing up, he would then listen to CD cassettes of Raag Bairagi, Pahadi, of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, video cassettes by Shemaroo, often by saving money to buy the cassettes by various artistes such as Mallikarjun Mansoor, Pandit Ullas Kashalkar, Manik Verma.
Gradually, with a dedicated routine of learning and listening, Arpan developed deeper interest in music and upskilled to create taans on his own, and that was a turning point in his life, to confidently create taans without needing the notebook or written notation. His riyaz continued every day, even amidst exams and conventional pressures of school work, while he was also getting an orientation into light music by listening to Bhajans of Anup Jalota, songs by Manna Dey and various artists.
LOVE WITH HARMONIUM: PREPARATION FOR THE MEETING OF OPPORTUNITY AND LUCK
Quite interestingly, from early childhood, Arpan had a special interest and knack of playing the Harmonium to the tune of famous Bhajans, such as Rang De Chunaria of Anup Jalota and he continued to upskill in his Harmonium playing abilities when he was 12 or 13 years old, composing interludes and preludes on Harmonium. One fine day, he started playing Harmonium in Anol Chatterjee’s class when he was away, which sparked a conversation about accompaniment with a vocalist presenting a Raag rendition. Arpan was then asked to play the nyas swara during Harmonium playing.
Arpan studied Music at Rabindra Bharati University, West Bengal. A new horizon opened in Rabindra Bharati University, where he started nurturing music in company and association of learned artists, who inspired and challenged him to improve his skills and develop a command on sur and taal. A friend of his introduced him to Shri Anol Chatterjee, during one of his classes where Raag Malkauns was being discussed. Arpan was almost mesmerized with the experience and the Guru Shishya relationship started to flourish, thereafter.
Arpan now actively accompanies (on Harmonium) Shri Anol Chatterjee and many other eminent vocalists in prestigious concerts in India and abroad. He has recently been awarded National scholarship in Hindustani vocal classical by Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He is also a passionate educator and regularly conducts online and offline classes to offer music lessons and Harmonium lessons.
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