Pune: Clear notes and the ability to lose herself in her singing is Kaushiki Chakraborty’s forte. One which endeared her to the Pune audience yet again during her performance on the second day of Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav. Kaushiki is Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty’s daughter.
Presenting raag Marubihag and a thumri, Chakraborty’s attention to detail, her harkats and tayyari had the audience spellbound for an hour and 15 minutes. Accompanying her on tabla were Satyajit Talwalkar, Ajay Joglekar on harmonium and Meghodeepa Ganguly and Anuja Bhave on tanpura.
Speaking to the press, Chakraborty gave a glimpse of her humility, wondering aloud what could she offer to this stage and the audience which have listened to the maestros in the past? As a child, the vocalist added, she always wondered if her name would be ever announced on stage and if people would actually wait to listen to her.
Chakraborty has also formed a band, an all Indian women ensemble called Sakhi. Speaking to Sakal Times about it, Chakraborty said, “It’s a group of my friends and I performing on stage, celebrating womanhood. We sing songs of Mirabai, Saraswati Devi and courtesans. Before you label the ensemble as ‘feminist’, let me tell you, it’s not. I don’t like the term ‘feminism’. I was raised as an individual and not as a girl. I hope to bring Sakhi soon to Pune.”
