Ajoy Chakrabarty Biography
Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty is a Bengali singer and Hindustani classical music vocalist. Apart from doing musical concerts, he occasionally sings for Indian music. In 1989, he won National award for best male playback singer for the Bengali film – Chhandaneer. For the movie, Gaddar: Ek prem katha, he sang the song, aan milo sajna aside Parveen Sultana. Isaiyil Thodanguthamma (Tamil) of Hey ram with Ilayaraja’s music, Yeh Kaun Mujhe Yaad Aaya of Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story in Naushad’s music, Bela Jay Shyamrai and Nain Mein Nandalal of Baidurjya Rahasya with Tapan Sinha’s music and Vaishnava Jan To of the movie – Water with Sukhwinder Singh are his popular film songs. Most recently he recorded the song, Rabso Neha Laage of the movie, Shunyo Awnko in Gautam Ghose’s composition. His imagination while writing poems/lyrics and sense of rhythm make him a unique personality. He founded Shrutinandan music academy.
Ajoy Chakrabarty was born in Kolkata in 1952 as the son of Ajit Chakrabarty. He received initial training in music from his father. During Bangladesh partition, they moved to India. His younger brother, Sanjay Chakrabarty is a noted composer and music therapist. Ajoy was graduated from Rabindra Bharati University. He learnt classical music from Ustad Munawar Ali Khan (son of the legendry Bade Gulam Ali Khan), Pannalal Samanta, Kanai Das Bairagi and Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Once while hearing him sing like Ustad Munawar Ali Khan, his father suggested him to sing in his own style and not to imitate anyone else. Ajoy was moved by his father’s words and created him own style of singing, for which the world knows him right now.
In his opinion, no division should be made between Indian classical music and light music. Ajoy has received Kumar Gandharva Award in 1993, Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2000, Padmashree in 2011, Banga Bibhushan and Alva's Virasat Award in 2012. Ajoy at present runs Shrutinandan music academy, the organization found by himself. His daughter, Kaushiki Chakrabarty is an upcoming talent of Hindustani music.
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Updated: January 05, 2014