Localturnon Artist : MANOJ PANDEY (kolkata)

#localturnon: What is the history to your taking up Music? How did it come into being, your journey?

#ManojPandey: In fact, like everybody rhythm was there inbuilt in my body (eg.heart beats to the tune of Lub-Dub) and I could feel it. In my childhood I discovered that it was also there in my surroundings like Koo - - - Zick Zick Zick Zick (sound of running train), sound of wall clock, beats of various tal jantra like Dhak, Khol, Dhol etc. 

When I was in standard IV, I came in contact with my first guru Sri Nirabendu Chatterjee (Disciple of Late Pandit Shyamal Bose) and started learning tabla under his tutelage for 10 years. After my graduation, I decided to take music as my profession and to make my dream true came to Calcutta to get talim under the guidance of Pandit Aninda Chatterjee.

Meanwhile, I sat for audition test in All India Radio and got B High Gradation from AIR. Now I am a performer and learner-cum teacher of tala jantra TABLA/ PAKHAWAJ. This is how it become a part of my day to day life.

#localturnon: So who are your favourites/ Icons/ Role Models in the field of music? 

#ManojPandey: My guru Pandit Aninda Chatterjee. I always try to follow his style of playing tabla.

#localturnon: How do rejuvenate your creative insights / get the adrenalin going?

#ManojPandey: By creating various compositions like TUKRA, GATH,KAYDA,CHAKRADHAR and PARAN etc. on different TAL.

#localturnon: Does your Music carry a message / a theme or a story? If so can you share more on it?

#ManojPandey: Yes, I always try to convey some messages to the audience about the aesthetics of my accompaniment with vocal and instrumental music. I also try to co-relate my various compositions with the rhythm of life during my solo presentation.

#localturnon: Of all the performances you’ve given, which is your favourite one and why?

#ManojPandey: Whenever I play with full satisfaction that becomes my favourite performance. I can remember that I had enjoyed my performance (accompaniment with sarod) in Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra. I think that was one of my favorite performances..

#localturnon: Can you share about some funny incident that happened on-stage / during performance / with you or the other artists / stage members?

#ManojPandey: Many years back when I had just come to Calcutta, I got a chance to accompany with a local singer in a light musical concert at DUM DUM. Unfortunately, I didn’t know that the singer was incompetent and very egoistic. Before we started our performance, he told me to show ‘SOM’ as per his requirement.

So to fulfil his requirement I had to play eight beats KAHARBA, seven beats KAHARBA and sometimes nine beats KAHARBA also. (Smiling)

#localturnon: How has the musical journey been so far for you and what are you looking forward to now?

#ManojPandey: From the very beginning of my music life I always have been trying to find the melody. And even today I am still looking forward to find it.

#localturnon: Do you have any words of advice for youngsters who are thinking of getting into this line?

#ManojPandey: . My suggestion for the young artists is “Don’t become complacent. Try to go for excellence.”

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