ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Suromurchhana celebrates 80th birth year of Tabla maestro Swapan Chaudhuri
Chaudhuri is celebrated for introducing Hindustani classical music, especially tabla drumming, to the West.
-
1759953093.png)
Staff Reporter - Sat, 01, Nov 2025
- 02:14 EDT
- 32
Padma Shri Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri / Courtesy photo
Suromurchhana, a non-profit arts organization active in India and the US, celebrated the 80th birth year of tabla maestro Padma Shri Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, on Oct. 25.
Featuring the legendary artist Chaudhuri himself, along with Suromurchhana founder vocalist Pandit Sanjoy Banerjee and Pandit Kedar Naphade on harmonium, the full-house concert also paid tribute to Suromurchhana gurus, late Sangeet Vidushi Malabika Kanan and late Pandit A. Kanan.
Chaudhuri, honored with the Padma Shri from the Government of India as well as the American Academy of Artists Award, is celebrated for his masterful command of tabla and for his pioneering role in introducing Hindustani classical music, especially tabla drumming, to the West.
Belonging to the Lucknow Gharana, he is celebrated for accompanying legends like Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, and was also honored with India's Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1996.
The concert opened with a vocal recital by Suromurchhana faculty member Namami Karmakar, accompanied by Sri Dibyarka Chatterjee on tabla, Sri Anirban Chakraborty on harmonium, and her disciple Devi on vocal support and tanpura. She impressed the audience with her meditative and exhilarating rendition of Raag Maru Bihag, followed by a bhajan by Saint Tulsi Das.
ALSO READ: Suromurchhana to host classical concert in NYC
This was followed by the key highlight of the event, Sanjoy Banerjee led several performances in Raga Bageshriand then proceeded with a composition in Raga Nand from the Agra Gharana lineage, which he presented with some incorporations from the Agra style.
He concluded the event with a bhajan, “Chalo Man Vrindavan ki Oar.”
After the presentation, Tabla maestro Chaudhuri noted that he expects that, in due time and with the necessary blessings, Banerjee would take his place among the leaders of Hindustani vocal music.
Sanjoy Banerjee founded Suromurchhana in Kolkata, India, following the vision of his Guruma, the late Sangeet Vidushi Malabika Kanan, in 2007. The US branch of the organization was established in 2017 in New York City. Suromurchhana is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused on cultivating the audience for Indian classical arts in the New York area and beyond.
This event was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login