Selected Awardee of Bharat Dignity Award 2022 to be held on 25th September 2022
Pt. Prosenjit Poddar–TABLA VIRTUOSO
We are delighted to have selected Awardee Pt. Prosenjit Poddar among us. On behalf of all the members and the management of News Mania, Shreya Karuna De and Safia Jabeen Parveen extended their warmest welcome and good wishes to share Candid Communication with him.
A classical Tabla virtuoso Pt. Poddar today has been considered as a torch bearer and thunderously applauded by the greats of Tabla and stalwarts of Indian music for his scintillating and versatile way of playing.
Pt.Prosenjit has crafted a unique style and creative approach which has brought him accolades and awards throughout the world. His consistently brilliant performances and masterful improvisational dexterity created a constant demand in India and gained him a worldwide fame. One of the most favorite accompanists of many of India’s greatest musicians and Dancers.
Pt. Prosenjit Poddar is son of eminent sitarist Shree Radha Krishna Poddar. At the age of 5, Panditji was placed under tutelage of Shree Biswajit Paul, a senior disciple of Pandit Swapan Chowdhury, a celebrated Tabla exponent of Lucknow Gharana. Subsequently, Panditji has undergone a systematic and intensive training from an eminent Tabla wizard of Farukhabad Gharana Ustad Sabir Khan, who honed the nuances & skills of Panditji.
Pt. Prosenjit Poddar is a Selected Awardee of Bharat Dignity Award 2022 to be held on 25th September 2022 at Taj Vivanta.
Shreya Karuna De and Safia Jabeen Parveen went to his institution to extend their warmest welcome and good wishes to share the candid Communication.
NM : At what age and when did you choose music as a passion?
PP :Firstly I want to thank News Mania team for taking my interview and i am delighted to share my views while talking about my childhood , At the age of five I started learning Tabla from my father who used to teach as an amateur though he was not a professional ,so at home music was the base from where I got interested to focus in this subject. First I used to learn in Bardhaman. After completing my five years I came to Kolkata where I started learning Tabla from Ustad Sabir Khan and with the blessing of all my teachers I reached to the peak today.
NM : Sir what you want to say about your journey to your audience ?
PP :I want to say not only music but to every profession that to shine in life one needs to manage time and focus in the goal. Time is important so now you all will say what the connection of time with music is.
I want to say time management is very important in one’s life, one should maintain hour and punctuality, for any reason if one is late then that has to be informed keeping the gesture and respect of the other person because life starts when they are young and practice, dedication and education makes one perfect. When I was giving my Board’s exam I studied a lot but the music is totally different thing which you cannot memorize and attempt your exam, here you have to practice regularly and thoroughly to master the skill.
In today’s time there is examination system of singing it is only for recognition it hardly matters to the stage shows as it doesn’t affect performance at stage, the main thing for performing art is how you are performing. According to me everybody should be a part of the music along with their main stream studies and work as music makes a man happy you will never listen that there is a fight between two artists. Music has its own language of harmony and pain. There is a music therapy in classical music unlike Western music because classical music is where our heart belongs.
NM :When your work get international recognition , How was your feeling?
PP : whatever work I have done so far I feel the same every time. By the grace of Almighty, I have always been praised and appreciated for my work which is indeed a blessing moment of my life.
Getting lots of acknowledgement and request I opened a school in Los Angeles naming “Prosenjit Poddar School of Music“
Yes, the feeling is just amazing and emotional when out of so much hard work I keep on getting international applauds and honour.
NM : Sir, you are representing fine arts and culture what is your future planning?
PP : See there are two parts of my responsibility , firstly I am a tabla player secondly I have an organization, so the work in harmony is possible only if I have an organization, individually I would have been difficult.
We have an organization “Hindustan Art And Society” which is an examination board of arts and culture, with that we also do several social service. During covid, We tried our best to be near the needy. we are further planning to start with music and dance university, where every student will enrol and the renowned expert from Kolkata,Delhi ,Mumbai will come to teach them. There is a university in Uttar Pradesh , though web performing art is not available yet so the entire responsibility related to performing arts are handled by us. the Hindustan Art and music society provides certification to our students .Our main aim is to prepare children who can perform in festivals, on stage with professionals. In West Bengal, every school and university have separate subject for music and dance which is also very much found in ICSE and ISC board .
NM :Sir which moment you consider best, the music and cultural journey or teaching journey and where you want to see this in next 5 years?
PP:God knows where it will stand in next five years but I am sure god has stored a successful and more growth in my journey of music.
The memorable moment is when I was small Pandit V.G Yog ji who was a renowned violinist and I was having my life’s first recording with him. since childhood, I used to watch his music on stage performance and now when I sat for recording with him my happiness had no boundaries. It’s like meeting with God along with that I also had a fear as will I ever be able to match the level, as and there is lot of technical issues while recording in live is done. A celebrity like him has sat with a small kid like me for recording and it was recorded for life time so this was something unforgettable and blessed moment for me.
NM:What is the major difference between in your generation and in this new generations Indian music and culture?
PP:I believe that we are the main reason for the change in this generation’s music taste. We are not able to show the right path. As I said it’s entertainment, today’s children have different prospective about music ,they consider it in the basis of entertainment ,thus children will ask what is this classical music is about!
We don’t like when they ask this question of confused entertainment , but if we can establish this just like you or anybody who are learning whether they are in media or want to be doctor or going to a sector where job is available.
Luckily this days government job is also offering and the places like Delhi has 80 to 90 thousand salary for music teacher. So we can assure students that they will get job in this sector too. There is a plus point in music and that is there is no retirement unlike other profession where their career is ended. But in music the work will continue till the last breath, also by each passing days the respect will grow more.
We along with government can assure that music has a life and you can go in any direction with music. According to me those who practice music will never go to any other profession or in any another direction as the strength of music is just incomparable. Today young generation is running here and there as they watch and see modern music as an entertainment. Entertainment is not going to stay always so for this reason we don’t want our music to be a entertainment only. Either it is Traditional music or Western music every form has its taste and audience ,our classical music is worldwide recognized thus we find more foreign students in India to practice our music. so our generation should realize this fact and start being serious with music and practice to carry with the trend that has been practicing from ancient time.
NM: What is your recent upcoming projects?
PP: I have been researching in the field of music more than 30 years, I have formed my own group named “Rhythm In Motion” which explains the ensemble of the North Indian Music & South Indian music consisting of different renowned artistes performing various instruments. We are assembling this all together to launch a music series but the details are little confidential which we will let you know when time will come.
I also commenced a school of music in the year 2018 in Los Angles, California, USA named as “Prosenjit Poddar School of Music”. The academy consists of around 110 students and is mainly managed by my senior students. I am planning to expand my group including US candidates for a purpose to bring a bright light in the field of Indian Art & Culture.
News Mania gathers few important synopsis about Pt. Prosenjit Poddar ‘s JOURNEY
Panditji is a born talented, devoted & dedicated classical artist and is a well known Tabla Maestro. Panditji has mesmerized the audiences of all nooks & corners of world and is global celebrity of Indian fine Arts & Culture. Panditji has won the heart of people by his per excellence renditions. He, as a performer and as an accompanist has been widely applauded and commands a respect internationally both as a soloist and as an accompanist.
Panditji possesses a sober , elegant and a graceful personality, He has accompanied with Kathak Queen Sitara Devi, Pt. V.G.Yog (violinist), Ustad Ali Ahamed Hossien (shahanai), Pt. Jagadish Prasad (vocalist), Pt. Dulal Roy (santoo player), Padmabhushan Pt. Viswamohan Bhatt (mohan veena), Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya (santoor), Pt. Ronu Majumder(flute), Pt. Subhendra Rao (sitar), Guru Bandana Sen (kathak dance), Guru Srilekha Mukherjee (kathak dance), Pt. Omprakash Maharaj(kathak dance), Pt. Rammohan Maharaj (kathak) among others.
The zeal, enthusiasm and bonanza of Panditji is remarkable and his renditions, solo recitals, Sath sangat has made a deep impression in the heart of music lovers and is being cherished by the common and higher echelons of the society all over world.
Panditji has been honored & Felicited from many organizations in India & Abroad, like Sangeet Millenum, Dalas, USA. Micro Academy, Dubai. ICC, Malaysia. ICC, Colombo. District Council of Culture, Cuttack, Oriswa, District Cultural Association, Barielly, Abhra Abir Sahitya Gosthi, Lambding, Assam. Swami Keshwanade Institute of Education, Sikar. Sutanuti Parishad, Kolkata. Nistha Sanskritik Manch, Gurgaon. Rotary Club, District 3291. Santoor Ashram, Kolkata. Rawat Public School, Jaipur. Sangeet Sadan, Raigunge, National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai. Rawatpura Sarkar Institute, Datia. Bharatiya Military School, Dholpur, Flyfot Forum, Solan, H.P. Puranik Sangeet Sansthan, Bhopal & many other organizations.
NM: It is absolutely honour to have you with us in this candid communication…Thank you
