Kamal Mallick

Kamal Mallick (1934-2014), was an an Indian Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his dexterity in playing the sarod (also referred to as Sarode). Mallick was desirous in popularizing Indian classical music among the younger generations, and he took active actions to advocate for the same, both as a performer and as a teacher. He established a music organization called “Shibpur-Ranjini” at Shibpur, Howrah in 1975.
== Early Life and Training ==
Kamal Mallick was born in a joint family at Shibpur, Howrah , to Satya Charan Mallick and Giribala devi. He was the youngest among his six brothers and one elder sister. He was only five years old when he had an attack of an unknown fever. When medicines were found, not working properly on Kamal’s body, his father, Satya Charan, thought of using music to heal his youngest son and asked his elder son Dwibakar , to sit near the ailing boy’s head and play the sitar.
Kamal started learning sarod in 1954 from famous Sarodist, Sangeetacharya Shyam Gangopadhay, in Kolkata and was a student of Ustad Allauddin Khan, the founder of Maihar gharana. Later, he went on to receive the tutelage of sarod wizard Ustad Ali Akbar Khan of global fame. He also took Gayaki talim from renowned Khyalist Late Pt. Narayan Rao Joshi of Kirana gharana.
== Career ==
He secured first position at All India Radio Music Competition in 1959 and was honoured by the then Hon’ble President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad with a Gold Medal.
He participated in numerous Music festivals in the same Dias with stalwarts like Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pt. Vinayakrao Patwardhan, Pt. Narayanrao Vyas, Ustad Amir Khan (singer), Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and many others.
He was invited to perform by Hafiz Ali Khan Society in the prestigious ‘Festival of Sarode’ in Delhi, Ravi Shankar Institute of Music and performing Arts in Varanasi, Jadubhatta Sangeet Sammelan, Sadarang Music Conference, Tansen Sangeet Sammelan, Dover Lane Music Conference and many other esteemed music concerts.
He was an artist of All India Radio as well as Doordarshan. He was a lecturer of Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.
He was brave enough to render Purab Thumri with his Sarod, which had hardly been demonstrated by any Instrumentalist of Sarod or Sitar till date.
He was globally acclaimed by virtue of his tonal quality in Sarod through various cassettes and CD-s released by ‘Sanskritik’ in London and by various music industries in India.
=== Tours ===
He had toured throughout Europe and Africa in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1988 as an Indian Delegate deputed by Government of India to propagate Indian classical music worldwide.
== Projects and collaborations ==
He had worked with the renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray to evolve the background music of films like Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players, 1977), Joi Baba Felunath (film), Hirak Rajar Deshe (Kingdom of Diamonds, 1980), Sukumar Ray (film) etc. Filmmaker Purnendu Pattrea and Goutam Ghose have also used his music in their Bengali films Chhera Tamsuk and Antarjali Jatra (1987) respectively.
He took part in the music of epic Bengali production called Mahisasuramardini (radio programme), broadcast every year on the holy day of Mahalaya by All India Radio, Kolkata since 1966. He was also a part of the All India Radio, Kolkata production named, Durga Durgatiharini.
=== Personal life ===
Kamal Mallick was married to Purna Mallick in 1959. Mallick had one son, Late Chandan Mallick and is survived by his daughter Malashri Mallick (Dey) and grandchildren. 
== Awards ==
Mallick secured the first position in All India Radio Music Competition and received the Gold Medal from the Hon’ble President of India.
He was awarded with the “Allauddin Puraskar” in 2014 by Government of West Bengal
==In the media==
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== References ==
Category:Hindustani instrumentalists
Category:Indian classical musicians
Category:Indian people
Category:1934 births
Category:2014 deaths