Classical Vocal
(Khayal & Thumri)
The Empress of Patiala Gayaki
by Smt. Meera Banerjee
The most befitting tribute to Meera Banerjee’s singing came from none other than her Ustad, who had said that when Meera sang, it was pristinely pure as the very soul of all creations. Initiated into music by her father Shri Shailendra Kumar Chatterjee, she had a brief stint ‘taalim’ from Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri. At a mere age of thirteen, she was selected by the A.I.R, and by the mid fifties, several of her discs came out, becoming immensely popular.
Meera started learning under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in 1950. She toured several European countries as a member of the cultural delegation sent by the Government of India in 1954. Her glorious performances abroad were honoured in India by the President and the Prime Minister through a special ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In 1957, the handsome, melodious vocalist Prasun Banerjee became her life partner.
Concerts in all the major conferences round the country and abroad, as well as the A.I.R & Doordarshan Live National Programmes won her numerous accolades. Meera Banerjee also sang in some award-winning feature films. In 1996, ITC SRA, Kolkata presented her the ITC Award. ‘Saurabh’ conferred on her the Bhuwalka Award in 1999, while the West Bengal State Music Academy in 2000 felicitated her. Immensely successful as a trainer too, Meera Banerjee has a proud list of very competent disciples to her credit.
Moreover this album has been embedded with the finest touch of Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri & Chandra kr. Chatterjee in Tabla, Pt. Mahesh Prasad Mishra in Sarangi, Sohanlal Sharma & Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty in Harmonium.
- Raga Saraswati - Khayal
Vilambit Ektaal, Drut Tintaal
- Raga Bhupali : Khayal & Tarana
Madhya Tintaal, Drut Tintaal
- Raga Hameer : Khayal
Madhya Jhaptaal
Accompanists:
Tabla: Chandra Kumar Chatterjee
Harmonium: Ajoy Chakraborty
- Raga Bhairavi : Thumri
Jattaal
Accompanists:
Tabla: Swapan Chaudhuri
Sarangi: Mahesh Prasad Mishra
Harmonium: Sohanlal Sharma
