Ramprapanna Bhattacharya [Vilayatkhani Gharana]
Ramprapanna Bhattacharya is a fine representative of younger generation of the famous Vilayatkhani Gharana. He belongs to a family which has a remarkable musical, cultural and spiritual heritage. His great grand father Late Ramendu Bhattacharya was a noted clainet player and was a bosom friend of Sangeet Acharya Girija Sankar Chakravarty and Shehnai Maestro Nandlal Ji (Varanasi). Ramprapanna's grand mother used to play sitar and has the family relation with the Bhattacharya Family of Shib Thakur Lane, Kolkata (which includes great musicians like Timir baran, Amiya Kanti Bhattacharya (Bhombal Babu) and Indranil Bhattacharya).His father Sri Ram Udar Bhattacharya is also a musician by his own credit and is a disciple of Ustad Ali Ahmad Khan(Sitar), Ustad Mustaq Ali Khan, Pt. Gokul Nag and Pt. Indranil Bhattacharya. His paternal aunts were also disciples of Late Sangit Acharya Jamini Ganguly.
Born in 1982, Ramprapanna was first introduced to music by his mother. He took up the Sitar at the age of six under the able guidance of his father, who guides him till today. He had received musical lessons from Sri Soumitra Lahiri of Vishnupur Gharana. It was great privilege for him to have musical lessons from Late Pt. Bimal Mukherjee of Jaipur Gharana.
He was accepted as a disciple by Pt. Kashinath Mukherjee (The senior disciple of Sitar Samrat Ustad Vilayat Khan and the legendary Ustad Amir Khan) and he is getting valuable musical guidance from him. Now, continuing the same musical tradition he is undergoing extensive guidance from Pt. Arvind Parikh in Bombay. Ramprapanna is really fortunate to have close association, affection and blessings from none other than Aftaab-E-Sitar Ustad Vilayat Khan Sahab.
He is receiving detailed exposure of the Imdadkhani Etawah Gharana, also called Vilayatkhani Gharana (The 400 years old tradition of India's most renowned musical family), which includes Gayaki Ang(Vocal Style), different Angas (techniques) of Alap, Jod, Jhala, Tantrakari, Ragang(Esthetic Colouring), complicated Sargams, super fast Taans (Complex and delicate wave of melodic patterns).
ince he hails from Imdadkhani-Etawah Gharana, different styles of Thumri, Dadra, Tappa, even certain facets of Ghazal and folk tunes are also present in his repertory.
Ramprapanna has participated the workshop, organized by the Govt. of West Bengal, conducted by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, in 1998 and 2000. He has also attended the workshop, organized by the "Rajya Sangeet Academy" conducted by Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan. He was the youngest participant in the workshop, organized by EZCC, conducted by Pt. Bimal Mukherjee.
Major Performances
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Ramprapanna has successfully performed in several public and private concerts in Kolkata and outside.
- His performance with Pt. Bimal Mukherjee was highly praised which was organized by The Eastern Zonal Cultural Center (EZCC) at Ashutosh Centenary Hall.
- He is fortunate enough to perform at "Sri Ramkrishna Mission Belur Math" on the birth day celebration of Swami Vivekananda.
- He represented the Indian Culture in front of the foriegn delegates at the Seminar of International Conference on Micro Biology at Kenilworth Banquet Hall, organized by the Bose Institute, Kolkata.
- He has the unique distinction of having performed at The Sunny Towers at the 76th Birth Day Celebration of The Legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan Sahab.
- He has got the rare opportunity to perform in front of Ustad Imrat Khan Sahab at The House of Sitar and Surbahar (Residence of Late Ustad Enayat Khan Sahib).
- Kolkata District Youth Festival.
- Sutanuti Parishad at Shova Bazar Raj Bari.
- Salt Lake Cultural Association
- Alankar Music Circle
- Ballygunge Maitrayee Music Circle (In memory of Sangeet Acharya Radhika Mohan Maitra) at Madhusudan Mancha.
- Sur Sagar Music Society.
- Chhatu Babu Latu Babu Thakur Bari
- Calcutta University Institute.
- Grand Hotel
- Calcutta Club
- Program organized by Rotary Club at Gorky Sadan
- Subhash Sanskriti Sangeet Parishad at Kala Mandir Basement Hall (Kalakunj)
- Aundh ITI (Industrial Technical Institute) Hall, Pune
- Sri Ram Bharatiya Kalakendra, New Delhi
- ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata
- National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai
- Pimpri-Chinchwad Sangeet Academy, Pune.
- YV Chavan Hall, Nariman Point, Near mantralaya, Mumbai
- Shivanand Swami Punyatithi Sangeet Mahotsav (Aundh - Dist Satara) - Maharastra
- Congress Bhavan, Pune
- Concert organized by Peerless Group at VidyaMandir Hall, Kolkata
- Sri Aurobindo Path Mandir, Kolkata.
- Nazrul Mancha, Kolkata.
- Iscon Temple, Pune on Janmastami Mahotsav.
Achievments
- National Scholarship Holder in Madhyamik (Secondary) Examination
- Receiver of Scholarship in Sitar by "Ministry of Culture" (Govt. of India)
- Stood first in Sitar in Kolkata District Youth Festival. (Govt. of West Bengal
- Stood first in Instrumental Music in "Inter Collegiate Music Competition"
- Stood first in Sitar in Music Competition organized by "Sutanuti Parishad"
- "Sutanuti Sangeet Samman" offered by "Sutanuti Parishad"
- Receiver of Award offered by "Dover Lane Music Conference"
- Receiver of Award offered by "Salt Lake Cultural Association"
- Receiver of Award offered by "Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture"
Blessings have been bestowed on him by the doyens like Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Imrat Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Nishat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee along with his respected gurus. Ramprapanna thinks that is the greatest achievement of his life.
Contact Details
Address:15/2B, College Row, College Street
Kolkata-700009, West Bengal
India
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