Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta
Buddhadev Dasgupta is the senior most exponent of one of the most authentic sarod gharanas today. He is a true genius with numerous achievements and one of the best known cultural ambassadors of our country.
Born in 1933 at Bhagalpur, he started his training from the age of ten from the sarod maestro, Radhika Mohan Moitra. His training continued for a period of 38 years until the demise of his teacher - the longest and most intensive training imparted by the great maestro to a disciple.
Since Radhika Mohan took his talim from Md. Ameer Khan, whose gharana's forte was the rabab-style of playing and also from Md. Dabir Khan of the Rampur Senia gharana, Buddhadev's style is based largely on that of his teacher's - emerging from a synthesis of the two gharanas. However, it is his unique musical personality that has shaped a distinctive style, completely his own. A deep understanding of the raga, a rare accuracy of the swaras, a superb balance between a gayaki and tantrakari, together with powerful bol patterns and fluent ekhara taans, of which he has been a pioneer, mark his music.
He started broadcasting at the age of 16 and has featured at over 20 National Concerts and Radio Sangeet Sammelans. A veteran performer at all the major festivals for over five decades, he also has a number of commercial recordings to his credit. He has done considerable research work on sarod and music in general and is known for his lucid articles and lectures. He has held the bengali audience spellbound by his bandishes based on Rabindranath Tagore's songs, a unique concept pioneered by him. He has been honoured with many awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award (1993), Shiromani Awards (1989-99), and ITC Award (2002). Buddhadev Das Gupta is an accomplished teacher. His education, articulation and communicative abilities have combined with intelligent teaching techniques to bring some of his students of high order on to the performing stage.
At present, he is attached to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, as member of its Experts Committee. He is also the Guru of the newly formed instrumental division, which imparts advanced training on the sitar and sarod.
Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta is regarded as a living legend, a virtuoso performer who has created a uniquely modern style rooted in a profound knowledge and feeling for raga music. He will be remembered along with giants such as Vilayat Khan, Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan for defining instrumental music in North India after independence.
Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta's style represents a modern synthesis of the rebabiya and beenkar styles. A hallmark of Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta is his architectural formal organization. Grand large scale structures are developed through systematic exposition of traditional forms. Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta is perhaps unmatched in the variety and complexity of his taans (fast melodic sequences). Long flowing melodic lines are masterfully constructed from smaller phrases which are concise formulations of the essential grammer of the raga. Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta is also well known for his intense cultivation of laykari. Rhythmic patterns of striking beauty and force are an essential part of his playing.
Buddhadeb Dasgupta needs no introduction to the world of sarod and classical music. His son Anirban has made a spectacular rise to worldwide recognition by imbibing his father’s style and adding to it his own splendid musicianship. He was personally blessed by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
