KANKANA BANERJEE-A BRILLIANT HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL VOCALIST

Smt. Kankana Banerjee

Kankana being awarded by the hands of Mother Teressa

Kankana with her Guru Ustad Amir Khan

Kankana with Pt. Pratap Narayan

Her first LP -record from HMV(1980)

Kankana Banerjee is an eminent classical vocalist of our countrywho has a sonourously rich and pliant voice.She is capable of synthesizing the aesthetics in her singing.When I got a chance to attend her concert in 1987 in Kanpur,I knew the beauty of her artful and pleasant singing which keeps the audience spell bound for hours.By that time Pt. Pratap Narayan( elder brother of Pt. Jasraj and father of film actress and singer Sulakshana Pandit) was accompanying her.In those years she was getting groomed in the intricacies of singing of Mewati Gharana from him.By that time she had got recorded an LP for HMV and also had sung a 'Tarana' in raga Darbari and a 'Drut-Khayal' in raga Yaman Kalyan in jugalbandi with Pt. Pratap Narayan,for an LP 'A Multifacet Genius Of Amir Khusaro'.I cannot resist to present here at least one composition from her each record :  

This tarana is the creation of Ustad Amir Khan Saheb,incorporating the Persian verses of Amir Khusaro"Yare man beya beya,baalabam rashid janam, tubhye aa ke zinda manam,........".Kankana Ji is the disciple of Ustad Amir Khan (Indore Gharana) and very confidenly sings all the Bandishes of her Ustad.You may see her khayal singing, resembling exactly with Ustad Amir Khan's raga Malkauns:

On stage she sings so well and without stress that everyone enjoys the real music.Her systematic Vistaar of raga,racy Taans and clear Bol are the qualities which very few vocalists have got.I remember that an organisation invited her in Kanpur in 1989,1991,1994 and 1995,on the repeated request of the people.She has recieved many Awards and Recognitions,so far and is busy in  her frequent visits to UK,CANADA,USA,MIDDLE- EAST and definitely all over the country.She is a very brilliant improviser of the singing qualities of three Gharanas in her presentations.She learnt Kirana Gharana style from her mother,Indore Gharana style from Ustad Amir Khan and Mewati Gharana style from Pt.Pratap Narayan.Two  vocal numbers are being given from her recent concerts in foreign countries:

There is no limit to write about an artist like her.She never got interested in singing for films.But on Sri Raj Kapoor's request, she sang a Thumri in raga Bhairavi"Saiyyan saiyyan saiyyan ratati main dolun.....",in jugalbandi with Nirmala Devi(film star Govinda's mother) in film 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili'.I still remember her  vocal concerts of Kanpur and wish to get a chance like that again and again.

BIRTH CENTENARY YEAR(2012-2013) OF LEGENDARY VOCALIST DR. GANGUBAI HANGAL

Padma Vibhushan Dr.Gangubai Hangal was born in March,1913 and she left this world on 21July,2009.Her contribution in the field of classical vocal music is unparellal.She continued with her singing till the age of 96 years,which is very rare.Being a foremost singer of Kirana Gharana,she won many awards and recognitions throughout her life.Having very deep and heavy voice she presented Khayals and Taranas with full gravity to keep her audience spell bound for hours.On her 76th birthday she was in IIT, Kanpur, with her daughter Krishna Hangal and I was lucky to attend  that memorable concert of Smt.Gangubai Hangal.I still remember one of her taans of longest duration which I had ever listened.Her simple appearance had a treasure of music inside,which she kept on distributing all her life to the lovers of music.
In her Birth Centenary Year 2012-2013,a Stamp should be released by the Govt. Of India, to commemorate the musical contribution of this great classical singer of twentieth century.She belonged to Kirana Gharana  of music and was senior to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi of same Gharana.     

Here are Dr. Gangubai Hangal's three melodious compositions,in ragas,BHAIRAV,RAGESHREE and  PURIYA DHANASHREE.

 
In राग  रागेश्री  she sings "हरि खेलत ब्रज में होरी....." 

 
In राग  पूरिया  धनाश्री  she renders the traditional ख्याल  of किराना  घराना "अरज सुनो पार करो ....."

 
Her daughter Krishna Hangal gave her vocal support in singing till she was alive.Krishna was a miraculous vocalist capable of streching the taans beyond your expectation and for it  she always gathered great applause from the audience.Here are the numbers in raga Kalawati and Kedaar to prove it:They sing in raga कलावती: "बोलन लागी कोयलिया ,बोलन लागी ।करत गुंजार भ्रमर वन भ्रमत ,मधुमास आई ....।।"
And  in raga केदार  they sing" अहो कैसी धूम मची है ......।।"