Kaushiki Chakraborty: Versatility’s her game

Krishnaraj Iyengar

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Hindustani gayaki has been equally glorified by both its male as well as female practitioners throughout its history. While many ustads and pandits have pillared its legacy, great female vocalists like Kesarbai Kerkar, Mogubai Kurdikar, Siddheshwari Devi and Gauhar Jaan, to name a few, have beautified raga music through their mellifluous voices. Adding to this legacy, Kaushiki Chakraborty shines like a star.

The daughter and disciple of Patiala gharana stalwart Pt Ajoy Chakraborty, Kaushiki’s versatile style has captivated audiences internationally. Stroking a beautiful swarmandal (plucked box zither) synonymous with the great Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, as she sings, her sonority reflects in her elaborate vistaar (slow raga unfolding) as well as speedy taans. “I feel lonely in the professional space as I don’t see many woman contemporaries. I would be delighted to share space with more female singers. It would create a better professional balance in the music world,” Kaushiki says.

The sanctity of learning, she believes, has little to do with her father’s stature. According to her, the guru-shishya relationship is highly rigorous, serious and focused. “But yes, I have always been awestruck by Baba’s presence and personality whenever I accompanied him for concerts,” she shares.

Having received taleem in the traditions of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and also the towering Pt Gyan Prakash Ghosh of Kolkata, one of her father’s gurus, Kaushiki reminisces about imbibing their music from an early age. “I was in a cocoon filled with the music of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, his brother Barkat Ali Khan and his son and my father’s guru, Munawar Ali Khan. The only other influence was that of the musicians associated with Sangeet Research Academy,” she says.

Throughout February, she is performing at the pan-Maharashtra Vasantotsav, a festival held in the memory of late vocalist Pt Vasantrao Deshpande. Here, she is rendering duets with his grandson Rahul Deshpande. “I have been performing at Vasantotsav for some time. It exudes a warm, refreshing, loving and inclusive energy. Rahulji and I share a lot of mutual respect and admiration that reflects in our chemistry. Otherwise, duets can be pushing, overlapping and encroaching,” Kaushiki explains.

Presenting equal mastery over several vocal forms like khayaal, thumri, chaiti, tappa, bhajan and even ghazal, Kaushiki feels a soul connection with each of them. “I call myself a ‘singer’ more than just a ‘classical singer’. I believe in immersing myself in a myriad of forms that I connect deeply with,” she explains. Kaushiki endeavours to excel as an all-encompassing vocalist with a holistic approach to music rather than slotting herself within a genre.