Hailing from Shillong, Meghalaya, Saptarshi Chakraborty represents the third generation of one of the most renowned families of musicians of North-Eastern India. Initiated into music by his illustrious grandfather Late Radhika Ranjan Chakraborty, a direct disciple of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore; and grandmother Late Asha Chakraborty, Saptarshi, ever since childhood has been training under his father Shri Sudip Chakraborty,an expert exponent of the Kirana gharana gayaki of the Tarapada Chakraborty musical lineage. He then went on to receive further valuable guidance from none other than Padmabibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj Ji, the legendary vocalist of the Mewati Gharana, the doyen of Indian Classical Music which proved to be an enriching experience for this promising artist in the classical music arena.
Naturally gifted with a rich and sonorous voice, the soft, emotive and spiritual approach of the Mewati gharana forms the ethos of Saptarshi’s gayaki keeping intact the sweetness and note-wise raaga elaboration of the Kirana gharana.
A first class Master degree holder in Indian Classical Music from Rabindrabharati University, Kolkata, he has been bestowed by the University, awards such as the Sangeetacharya Girijashankar Chakraborty award and Acharya Udaybhushan Bhattacharya Award for best classical vocal performances in Khayal and Dhrupad. Apart from his popularity as a Hindustani classical vocalist, Saptarshi is equally adept at singing Rabindrasangeet owing to a musically rich family tradition.
Raaga Puriya Dhaneshri
‘Dhoondana jaun’ - Vilambit Khayal
‘Shyama Murari’ - Drut Khayal
Raaga Jog
‘Sumirana Hari ka’ - Madhyalaya Khayal
‘Hanuman Lala’ - Drut Khayal
Raaga Sindh-Bhairavi *
‘Guru Agya’, - Guruvandana
Accompanying Artists
* Debabrato Banerjee - Harmonium
* Bishwajit Natto - Tabla
Deboprasad Dey - Harmonium
Raj Narayan Bhattacharya - Tabla
Ananya Bhattacharya - Tanpura