Debanjan Bhattacharjee

Debanjan Bhattacharjee is an Indian Sarod player of Maihar Gharana (also known as Maihar-Senia Gharana). A disciple of Ustad Aashish Khan, Late Vidushi Ameena Perera, and Late Professor Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, Bhattacharjee is known for his concept of Dhrupad Sarod, which he performed at Hyderabad House in front of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in 2019.
== Biography ==
Born on May 18, 1986 in Ballygunge, Kolkata, Bhattacharjee completed his school education from South Point School, Kolkata. He pursued an M.E. in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering and secured a First Class from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, West Bengal, India. 
== Career ==
Bhattacharjee got training in Rabindrasangeet as a child from his parents. He took up the Sarod at the age of five and started learning under Late Professor Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, son of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan from August 1991. After the demise of Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, he had taalim under Ustad Aashish Khan and Late Vidushi Ameena Perera née Khan. As a child, he also participated in various workshops conducted by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
In 2007, he participated in an all-India competition arranged by All India Radio which won him the President's Gold Medal in 2008 at the age of 21. In 2012, Bhattacharjee represented India in the United Nations Congress in Bahrain and in 2015, as a Cultural Diplomat in Festival Internacional Cervantino. In 2018, he performed at the Dover Lane Music Conference, Kolkata. Bhattacharjee has also performed in Dhrupad Mela, Taj Mahotsav, Sawai Gandharv Samaroh, Swara Samrat Festival, Rajya Sangeet Sammelan, Baba Allauddin Khan Samaroh, and various other music festivals across India.
He has performed internationally in eighteen countries including Sweden, Germany, USA, Bahrain, France, Canada, Qatar, Bangladesh, and in sixty-five cities across twenty-four states in India. During the Coronavirus Pandemic, he has also performed online under the banners of Arati Music Foundation, HCL Concerts, and Viewcy. 
His album of Rabindrasangeet on the Sarod is known as 'Sarod-e Rabi' ('সরোদে রবি'). 
He has also played the Agomoni songs (songs dedicated to the advent of Goddess Durga) and Shyama Sangeet songs, two devotional music traditions of Bengal on the Sarod under the names 'Sarod-e Sharodiya' (সরোদে শারদীয়া) and 'Sarod-e Shyama' (সরোদে শ্যামা).
He is an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and a graded artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan. 
== Dhrupad Sarod ==
Dhrupad Sarod is a form of recital conceptualized and globally performed by Bhattacharjee, with the Pakhawaj on accompaniment. Through Dhrupad Sarod, he presents the ancient Dhrupad style of Indian Classical Music on the Sarod. This presentation comprises Alapchari, and Dhrupad style compositions in Dhrupad Talas accompanied by the Pakhawaj. The Dhrupad style of playing involves Ladi, Lar-Lapet and Saat Sangat in Dhrupad Talas like Sooltal, Chautal, Dhamar, Ashtamangal etc.,which sets it apart from a regular Sarod recital accompanied by the Tabla in Khyal|Khayal style. 
Bhattacharjee performed Dhrupad Sarod in front of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi at the concert held in the honour of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and in Festival Internacional Cervantino, 2015 as an Indian Cultural Diplomat. He has also performed it in Dhrupad Mela (Varanasi), Prayag Sangeet Sammelan (Allahabad), National Dhrupad Samaroh (Darbhanga). 
== Albums ==
For his debut album, Rising Stars (2011), Bhattacharjee got nominated for the GIMA Awards (2012) under the Best Classical Album category alongside Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Shujaat Khan, and Pt. Ronu Majumdar. Dhrupad Sarod Series- Vol 1 is his another album on Dhrupad Sarod.
== Collaboration ==
Bhattacharjee has collaborated with artistes from Germany, Sweden, and Azerbaijan. In 2015, He collaborated with India, Pakistan, and USA-based musicians as a part of the Dosti Music Project. He has also worked with French composer Hughes de Courson for his project on Traditional Islamic instruments.
== Filmography ==
Bhattacharjee has played in Sandip Ray's film, Chaar (2014).
Category:Indian people
Category:Indian musicians
Category:1986 births