Draft:Sreekumar Chatterjee



Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee

Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee (born 30 July, 1941) is a Bengali singer and doctor, primarily known as an exponent of Rabindra Sangeet.[1][2][3][4]

Early Life and Career in Music

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Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee was born in his ancestral home in North Kolkata, where he still resides. During his childhood, he grew up in an environment that offered exposure to art as well as artists. [5][4][6]

His father, Dr. Sukumar Chatterjee, was an eminent doctor, and his mother, Pramila Chatterjee, was a teacher of Bengali at City College and Arjakanya Mahabidalaya. Although a busy doctor, his father would occasionally, as part of his artistic passions, play the Esraj and act in theatre and Bengali films. His mother used to play the organ as a past time. [1][2]

College Life: 1960-1965

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Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee started his musical career while pursuing medicine from R.G. Kar Medical College. It was during this time that he won the first prize in the state-wide Intercollegiate Competition three years in a row. In 1964, having successfully cleared the audition at Hindusthan Records, his first recording was released, which went on to gain significant popularity.[7] In 1965, less than a year later, he successfully cleared the audition at Akashbaani (All India Radio Kolkata), whereby he professionally performed as a radio artist. [1]

1966-1980

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Following his establishment as a radio artist, Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee went on to sing professionally at functions, events, programs, and new recordings. [8] He also did a few playbacks for films.

Hemanta Mukherjee was seeking a playback artist for the Bengali films directed by the Agragami collective. One day, Hemanta Mukherjee sent for Dr. Chatterjee, offering him the proposal to sing in a film, which Dr. Chatterjee accepted.

In 1975, Dr. Chatterjee sang the song "Bhalo bashile jodi shay bhalo na bashey" for the film "Aranakanya".

Thereafter, in 1977, he sang "Madhobi Hothat Kotha Hotey Elo" for the Bengali film "Swati", which was lip-synced by the actor Bani Kumar.[5][6][4]

1980 - present

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Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee and Kabir Suman performing duet at Sangeet Mela in 2019.

In 1980, as Dr. Chatterjee left his full-time job as a doctor, he decided to put his primary focus on his career in music. During this time, some of his newer CD recordings were released from T-Series. [1][9][8][4]

International performances

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Europe Tour: Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee participated in London, Frankfurt and Paris during the Festival of India of 1982 as part of the troupe led by Suvra Mukherjee, the wife of then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

USA: In the US, he participated in the Bengali Conference of 1993 and also in several other performances in 1993, 1999, 2004, etc. [2]

Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee awarded Sangeet Samman by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee in 2019

Awards

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  • Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee got the Bangiya Chalachitra Samiti Lifetime Achievement Award for Rabindra Sangeet in 2006. [2]
  • He was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Samman award in 2019 by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, on the grand opening of Sangeet Mela 2019. [10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "An Evening With Dr Sreekumar Chattopadhyay - 50 Years of Rabindra Sangeet - Exclusive Interview | WBRi | Washington Bangla Radio on internet". 2018-11-04. Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  2. ^ a b c d Hindusthan Record Archives (2016-08-17). Aalo Aamaar Aalo | Rabindra Sangeet | Dr. Sreekumar Chatterjee | Best of Rabindranath Tagore Songs. Retrieved 2024-11-27 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "APPS | Association of Professional Performing Singers (West Bengal)". appswb.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  4. ^ a b c d Chakraborty, Bankim (19th February, 1986). ""Lalitkala - Sreekumar: Sukh-Dukh niyei tar shurer rajjopath"". Shottojug Newspaper. pp. 1–2. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b Editorial Team (26th April, 2009). "Robibarer Anondo: Dr. Sreekumar Chattopadhyay-er Robibar Tarashankar ke gaan shonanor deen". Anandabazar Patrika. p. 17. Archived from the original on 29-11-2024. Retrieved 28-11-2024. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |access-date=, |date=, and |archive-date= (help)
  6. ^ a b Editorial Team (28th May, 2016). "Amar para - Madhusudan Chatterjee Lane - Bipodey Pashey Daranor Obeshhta Haraini". Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 28-11-2024. Retrieved 28-11-2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date=, |date=, and |archive-date= (help)
  7. ^ "Dr Sreekumar Chatterjee - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  8. ^ a b RDC Banglar Geeti (2015-01-22). Interview of Eminent Singer | Dr Sree Kumar Chatterjee | An Exclusive Chat | HT Cassette. Retrieved 2024-11-28 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Music 2000 Plus (2016-01-18). Jibon Debota - A Lyrical Journey of Tagore's work | Interview with Dr. Srikumar Chatterjee. Retrieved 2024-11-28 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Vision Makers Entertainment (VME) (2019-12-05). SANGEET MELA 2019 GRAND OPENING | CM MAMATA BANERJEE AND OTHERS WERE PRESENT_ VM NEWS 1080HD. Retrieved 2024-11-27 – via YouTube.