Enchanting Sitar By Pandit Kushal Das

A master of the sitar

Pandit (‘scholar’) Kushal Das is generally acknowledged as a master of the sitar and as a worthy successor of his idol, the legendary Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The playing of Kushal Das is characterized by its mellifluous phrasings, taking example from the human voice. He has learned from Indian classical singers, but at a young age he already played along to popular film songs.

Kushal Das is a descendant of a prominent musical family in Calcutta. At the age of seven he started taking lessons. When he realized that making music was his goal in life, his education became increasingly rigorous. His main teacher was sitar player and professor Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, and he took lessons with great musicians such as singer Manas Chakraborty and sitar player Ajoy Sinha Roy.

Kushal Das will be accompanied by Pt. Sanju Sahai, one of the finest and most sought-after Tabla artists. As an international artist, Sanju Sahai has performed in over 30 countries at some of the world’s major concert venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. He is the only tabla artist to perform on three separate occasions for the prestigious BBC Proms.