My Story
I was born into a home where music wasn’t just taught, it was lived. My mother, Srimati Manju Chakraborty, a senior disciple of the iconic Tagore vocalist Srimati Suchitra Mitra, was my first guru. I grew up to the sound of her riyaz at dawn, and in that gentle space between her voice and the tanpura, music became my destiny..
At the age of 10, I was awarded a scholarship at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) in Kolkata, where I became one of the youngest scholars. Under the guidance of my Gurus, Pandit A Kanan and Vidushi Malabika Kanan, I learned not just the craft of singing but the discipline, purity and surrender that classical music demands. By 15, I had completed Sangeet Visharad and Sangeet Prabhakar in Khyal, Nazrul Geeti, Rabindra Sangeet and Kathak dance. I was later blessed to receive advanced taleem from Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi, who gifted me the emotional depth of Thumri and the grace of the Purab Ang tradition.
My journey then moved beyond India. I travelled to South Africa to lead the Music Department at the Indian Consulate in Johannesburg, and later joined Witwatersrand University as a lecturer in Music, History and Society. In 2000, I moved to the United Kingdom, which I am proud to call home today as a British citizen..
Over the years, I have performed across India, Europe, the USA, South Africa and Pakistan, but my exploration of music has never been limited to performance. I have collaborated with Western classical musicians, jazz artists, dancers, poets and global storytellers, creating conversations between ragas, symphonies and spoken word..
My Research on Tawaifs & Musical Theatre
One of the most defining chapters of my life has been my research into the lives and music of the Tawaifs of India, the courtesans who were once the guardians of high art, poetry, etiquette and Hindustani classical music. I travelled across India, met families, explored lost archives and listened to unheard stories of these remarkable women whose art shaped the very foundation of Indian classical music yet whose legacy was silenced by history.
From this research was born a series of musical stage productions, the most notable being Tale of Tawaifs, a pioneering live musical that brings their world to life through music, dance, poetry and narrative. Over the years, I have staged more than 20 musical productions based on my research, reviving forgotten bandishes, poetry and historical narratives..
Institutions I founded....
To preserve and pass on the legacy of classical music and poetry:.
Surmandir – an institution devoted to nurturing young talents in Indian classical music..
Saudha – Society of Poetry and Indian Music (founded 2011) – a platform that brings together poetry, music and multilingual literature in deeply artistic productions..
Kalakar Arts UK (founded 2018) – a home for global artistic collaborations and large-scale concerts that connect audiences across cultures..
My journey is still unfolding — every student I teach, every concert I sing and every story I tell is an offering to the tradition that began in my mother’s lap, with a simple song and a dream....
