How to Find and Learn | Music within You | Debapriya Adhikary
Debapriya Adhikary is a distinguished Hindustani classical vocalist renowned for his mastery of khayal, tappa, and thumri, representing the Benaras Gharana tradition. Recognized as one of the foremost torchbearers of the Benarasi tappa style, he has dedicated his career to preserving and reinterpreting the delicate artistry of this genre. He received rigorous training under Pandit Samaresh Chowdhury and the legendary Girija Devi, two of the most revered exponents of the Benaras Gharana. And I am also learning Dhrupad from Pandit Uday Bhawalkar ji. Over the years, Debapriya has earned numerous honors for his excellence in Indian classical music. He was awarded the National Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the ITC Sangeet Research Academy Promising Artiste Award. His dedication to deep musical study was recognized with the Jnana Pravaha Scholarship in Varanasi. As a young artist, he also won first prize in the All India Radio National Classical Vocal Competition. Debapriya’s international presence is equally impressive. Along with sitarist Samanwaya Sarkar, as part of the acclaimed duo DevaSaman, he has performed at prestigious festivals and venues around the world, including WOMAD (UK), Elbphilharmonie (Germany), the Sharq Taronalari Festival (Uzbekistan), and the Sitar Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. His tours have taken him across Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia, where he has represented the depth and diversity of Indian classical music on the global stage. In addition to his performances, Debapriya co-directed and performed in the National Award-winning documentary “Girija: A Lifetime in Music”, a tribute to his guru Girija Devi. The film received the National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film in 2018, further establishing his role not only as a performer but also as a documenter of India’s classical heritage.
03.45 Introduction, About his family, Details regarding his early musical training
06:31 My GuruJi Pandit Samresh Chowdhury (1955-2019), Vidushi Girija devi, Pandit Uday Bhawalkar
20:20 About Dhrupad singing
22:03 Music has no End, You teach Yourself as well
23:38 The relationship with Ragas is new every day
28:50 Your inner Soul shines through your Voice (Sur)
31:23 The art of Music is remembered forever in your Mind
33:12 Daily Life, Exams and Music Practice
36:56 You have to push yourself and Step Out of your Comfort Zone
40:13 There is no shortage of talent in this country, Talent is being born every day
43:10 Music is connected to Nature and to Everyone
46:15 Your integrity and Honesty are Very Important in Music
49:34 When we start Learning Music
52:37 How Children Learn Music
55:36 Observing and Understanding Swaras
58:48 A singer needs to work on their Breath Control
1:01:51 Our throat Muscles, Breathing play a Very Important role
1:07:21 Vocal Culture, Vocal Production
1:11:52 We utilize the Same Taan in different ways across different Ragas
1:16:42 One cannot properly sing Thumri merely by learning Khayal Singing
1:20:45 From a Beginner’s Perspective
1:24:19 There is no shortcut to learning How to Sing
1:27:53 When I teach Music
1:34:59 The Singing will only work if the Notes are Correct
1:38:01 What is the importance of Lyrics in Gayaki
1:44:03 To execute a Bandish, certain qualities are required in your Voice
1:46:31 Sometimes, Perfection is found even in Imperfection
1:50:06 Often, even after practicing extensively, it still doesn’t work out
1:53:36 What is Light Classical
1:59:06 What is the Story of Tappa Gayaki
2:02:02 That is when the different shades of music begin to be understood
2:05:14 Everyone has a different perspective on music
How to Find and Learn | Music within You (Podcast-9) | Debapriya Adhikary
