A paṇḍit (Hindi; Devanagari: पण्डित; Bengali: পন্ডিত, Sanskrit: paṇḍita) is a scholar, a teacher, particularly one skilled in Sanskrit language, mastered vedic scriptures in the four vedas, Hindu rituals and Hindu law, religion, music or philosophy under a Guru in a Gurukul or tutored under the vedic ancient Guru Shishya tradition of learning. The English loan word pundit is derived from it.

In the original usage of the word, "Pandit", synonymous to "Purohits" refers to a Hindu, almost always a Brahmin, who has memorized a substantial portion of the Vedas, along with the corresponding rhythms and melodies for chanting religious verses or singing them during prayers or rituals.

The designation may also appear as the abbreviation "Pt.", or "Pnt."

The term is also widely used referring to the great Indian Mahasiddhas of Nalanda Monastery.

Religion[link]

Pundits and Purohits may also be pujaris or temple priests who chant Vedic verses at yagyas and other religious ceremonies, both public and private. The vedic chanting is meant to evoke the gods with a quiet mind for the purpose to sanctify the place of ritual with spiritual development for the listeners. Pundits are usually strict lacto-vegetarian for spiritual reasons. They are supposed to maintain purity of body and mind.

The Rajpurohits had similar function, often patronised by local Hindu landlords and rulers for advice. They were accorded high social status, with grants of lands and privileges which other pundits did not enjoy.

Surname[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

The historical evolution of vedic priests can be traced back to ancient Aryan civilization through the Chandragupta Maurya era, branching off to all regions in family geneaology across Bharatvarsha after training under the ancient Hindu Sages to do services to the people and the King. The surnames appended to the pundits often follow the gotra of the family geneaology, historical regions in migration or in the patronage of Kings or nobility.

The surname 'Pandit', most abundantly found among Kashmiris, is found all over India today. The surname is mostly found among Hindus; however, there are also cases of the surname Pandit used by Kashmiri Muslims who are more recent converts into Islam.

Naming patterns of the Kashmiri Pandits are almost the same as are found there among the Brahmins of the centro-eastern region with componential preferences with regard to the second component. Some of these are: (1) + Narayan: Jagdish – (Sapru), Anand – (Mulla), Parameshwar – (Haksar), Hriday - (Kunjru), Jagat-,Laxmi-,Brij-,Shyam-,etc. (2) + Krisn: Roop-, Maharaj-, Brij-, Avta-, Tej-, Mohan-, Hari-, Kumar-, Jay-, Pyare-, Nipun-, Apurv-, etc. (3) + Nath: Hriday-, Omkar-, Raghu-, Amar-, Balji-, etc. (4) + Lal: Moti-, Jawahar-, Krishan-, Ziya-

Moreover, at present the names of Kashmiri Pandits are drawn from the same sources as by the Hindus of northern India, but some of the names of the Kashmiri Pandits, recorded in earlier literary works show that names drawn from Persian sources too were current among them. e.g. Aftab Pandit, Balkak Dar, etc. Interestingly, in Kashmiri 'Pandit' surname is attested with Muslims as well, e.g. Mohd Shafi Pandit, Chairman of J&K Public Service Commission. High incidence of the surname 'Pandit' today can be found in Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan..

"Pandit" as a surname is always indicative of someone who as Saraswat Brahmin lineage at some point.

Notable pandits[link]

Descendants from Saraswat Brahmin lineage

• Chandrakant Pandit (Maharashtraian)
• Farah Pandith (Kashmiri)
• Giridhari Lal Pandit (Kashmiri)
• Mohammad Shafi Pandit (Kashmiri)
• Lalita Pandit (Kashmiri)
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (Kashmiri)
• Kulbhushan Pandit – known by stage name in Bollywood as Raaj Kumar (Kashmiri)
• Jatin Lalit (Jatin Pandit & Lalit Pandit) (Rajasthani)
• Vikram Pandit (Maharashtrian)
• Shrradha Pandit (Rajasthani/Hindi/Haryanvi)
• Shweta Pandit (Rajasthani/Hindi/Haryanvi)
• Yash Pandit (Rajasthani/Hindi/Haryanvi)

Music[link]

In India today, 'Pandit' is an honour conferred on an expert of any subject or field, especially Hindustani music. Its usage is confined to Hindu male exponents. Muslim male musicians are bestowed with the title 'Ustad', and the terms 'Vidushi' and 'Begum' are used for Hindu and Muslim female exponents respectively.

The term 'Pandit' (always capitalised) is prefixed to the person's name, similarly to the way the term 'Maestro' is occasionally used. Examples include Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

This usage also applies to politician Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Other uses[link]

Pandits, or locals learned in the dharmasastra, were also employed as court advisors during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Initially, British judges had very little knowledge of Hindu customs and oral traditions, and they could seek information from them on particular questions. The Supreme Court of India had a law officer styled the Pundit of the Supreme Court, who advised the English judges on points of Hindu law. The practice was abandoned by 1864, as judges had acquired some experience in dealing with Hindu law, and applied the increasing volume of case law that had developed. Further, the institution of the High Courts, two years earlier, in 1862 further diminished their official use.

Pandit or pundit was also the name used for Indian native surveyors who explored regions to the north of India for the British in the 19th century. See Pundit (explorer).

In Indonesian language and many regional languages of Indonesia, derivative form of pandit, pendeta, is used to refer priest or cleric, in Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.

See also[link]

• Bard
• Chant
• Epic India
• Kashmiri Pandit
• Korla Pandit
• Kumhar
• List of Saraswats
• Pundit
• Saraswat Brahmin
• Vikram Pandit

References[link]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Santhosh Pandit
Santhosh Pandit in 2011
Native name	സന്തോഷ് പണ്ഡിറ്റ്
Born	(1973-04-08) April 8, 1973 (age 39) Peruvannamuzhi,[1] Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Alien star [2]
Citizenship	India
Occupation	Film actor, Producer, Director
Years active	2011–present
Parents	Appunni Pandit Sarojini[1]
Website
www.santhoshpandit.com[citation needed]

Santhosh Pandit (Malayalam: സന്തോഷ് പണ്ഡിറ്റ്) is a Malayalam film actor and director. He is known for his directorial debut film Krishnanum Radhayum in which he appeared in the lead role and handled almost all the major departments of the film. The songs and trailers of the film went viral in YouTube after it was released there before the release of the film.

As per Google Trends, he was the 10th most popular search from India on November 10, 2011.^[3] However, his website claims that he was at the 6th on Google Trends,^[4] probably due to fluctuations in ranking during the course of the day. India stood only fifth among the countries that had searched for him. NRI Malayalees gave more attention to him, as Qatar stood top of the list, followed by Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.^[5]

Career[link]

Santosh Pandit's first movie Krishananum Radhayum, which got released on 21 October 2011,^[6][7] became an unexpected crowd puller and saw some success in theaters. Some critics attribute the moderate success of the film to the general curiosity after the unprecedented abuses and negative comments posted on the YouTube clips related to the songs in the film.^[8][9] Santhosh is credited as an actor, director, script-writer, editor, music director, lyric writer, editor and playback singer in the film and he stands a chance for entering record books for the maximum credits for a single person in a released film.^[10][11] Currently he is engaged in the production of his second film, Jithu Bhai Enna Chocolate Bhai,^[12] where again he is handling all the major departments in production.But the film name was later changed to "Superstar Santhosh Pandit" because the name 'Jithubhai enna chocolate bai' was already registered by someone else.^[13][14] Amidst criticism, Santosh Pandit received some praise from National Award winner Salim Kumar, complimenting his effort and commented "This is indeed a big achievement considering the fact that even superstar flicks are continuously bombing at the box office these days." ^[15]

Awards[link]

For handling 8 departments of the film from direction to acting, Santhosh Pandit received the 2011 Ekalavya Karma Sreshta Award by Ekalavya Charitable Trust. The award was presented by veteran Malayalam actor Madhu^[16] in the presence of K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Minister for Forests & Environment, Sports and Cinema, Government of Kerala.

Personal life[link]

Santhosh was born in Peruvannamuzhi village^[1] and was brought up in Kozhikode city.^[1] He went to school at Chelannur AKKR High School and the Government Arts College. After his parents died, he inherited three houses, one of which he sold to raise funds for his first film.Even though he was a Hindu by birth he is living as an atheist. He is divorced and has a son.^[17]

Filmography[link]

TeleFilm[link]

1. Premaswaroopanum Koottukarum (director)
2. Kalyaniyude Kalayanam (director)

Discography[link]

References[link]

Kozhikode, Kerala, India

Shweta Pandit
Shweta Pandit at the CPAA Shankar Ehsan Loy concert, April 2012.
Background information
Birth name	Shweta Pandit
Genres	Playback Singer, Performing Artist, Actor, Composer
Occupations	Singer, Actor
Years active	1991–present

Shweta Pandit is an Indian Playback Singer, Song Writer, Performing Artist and Actor in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Telugu and Tamil film songs.

At the age of 5, Shweta worked with Legendary Indian Composer, Ilayaraja for the award-winning film Anjali, which was re-recorded in Hindi. She dubbed for the lead role in the film in Hindi.^[1]

Early Life and Background[link]

Shweta was born and raised in the famous Bollywood resident area, Juhu Scheme in Mumbai, India, where she studied at Utpal Shanghvi School and briefly at Mithibai College. She is the fourth generation of vocalists in her family of music maestros.

Her great grandfather was the Hindustani Classical Legend of the Mewati Gharana - Pandit Motiram and his younger brother Pandit Jyotiram. Her great-uncle is Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Martand and legendary Hindustani Classical Vocalist, Pandit Jasraj (1930). She learnt music since the age of 8 from his elder brother, Sangeet Acharya - Pandit Pratap Narayan (1918–2002). Her Father, Vishwaraj Pandit is a Classical Tabla Player and a Music Director in the late 70's. Shweta's aunt Sulakshana Pandit, was a household name in the 70's as one the biggest singing sensations in Bollywood, who also acted in movies like Uljhan, Sankoch, Manoranjan, Hera Pheri and Apnapan. She acted opposite Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and sung songs with music legends like Kishore Kumar, Mukesh and Mohammad Rafi.

Shweta is the youngest child and has an elder brother, Yash Pandit (Television and Film Actor since 2002) and elder sister, Shrraddha Pandit (Playback Singer since 1997 - Khamoshi, Delhi 6, Sangharsh, Khoobsoorat, Band Bajaa Baraat etc.) and Composer with Hollywood film, Hisss (2010).

She has sung in various films even as a child, including Pardes, Raju Chacha, Dil Kya Kare and Saaz (where she collaborated with tabla maestro Zakir Hussain).

Music career[link]

She got her first big break with Aditya Chopra’s Mohabbatein (2000) with 5 songs at the age of 12. She was chosen to sing in the film, after she auditioned for the final selection among 500 singers.

Her popular songs are from Aditya Chopra's Neal n Nikki 2005,^[2] Dharmendra's Yamla Pagla Deewana 2011, David Dhawan's Partner 2007, Anees Bazmee's Welcome 2007, Ram Gopal Varma's Naach 2004 and Sarkar Raj 2009, Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna 2006, Mere Brother ki Dulhan (2011) etc.

Shweta is currently the most popular singer in Telugu film industry Hyderabad.

Her Debut Record Album Main Zindagi Hoon released when she was only 16 years old with EMI Virgin Records, India. She has released 3 videos from this album, featuring her. Her other albums include Aplam Chaplam - the Star Mix, a remix album of the classic Bollywood songs, featuring Bollywood Superstar, Salman Khan in the Music Video.

Shweta has also sung for various TV Commercials and AD Jingles. She has sung in various Indian and Western languages and started performing live on stage, all around the world, since the age of 11, on the Children's Live Show, Little Stars in 1998 at the Wembley Arena in London.

In 2012, Shweta sang her first Tamil song for the movie Vettai for composer Yuvan Shankar Raja.^[3]

In 2011, Shweta collaborated with popular Punjabi singer and actor Harbhajan Mann for the song Sun Mere Chann Mahiya for the album Heer Ranjha (OST). Shweta has to her credit many popular Punjabi songs too.

Television[link]

She participated as a child on the popular Indian TV music show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 1996.

Her first Reality Television Show as a playback singer in 2008 – Mission Ustaad on Channel 9x, was a show Produced by the United Nations and Judged by Oscar Winner and Music Maestro A R Rahman and noted Lyric and Film Writer Javed Akhtar

The show was one of the biggest television series presented by the United Nations and had accomplished singers from Bollywood performing together for various causes for the United Nations.

Live Performances[link]

In 2009 - 2010 Shweta Pandit is now a part of 2009 Oscar Winner, A R Rahman's - Jai Ho Journey Home Concert - World Tour'. Performing with the Music Legend as a leading vocalist, around the world, including India, Australia, US, UK and the Middle East and Asia.

Shweta has also performed the track JAI HO from Slumdog Millionaire with 2 time Oscar Winner AR Rahman on 11 December 2010 at the Prestigious NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CONCERT in Oslo, Norway which was hosted by Hollywood superstars, Denzel Washington and Anne Hathaway and attended by the King of Norway.

Commercials[link]

Shweta Pandit Productions has also recently released the debut album of Shrradha Pandit's Teri Heer in October 2008, with Sony Music, India. She has also featured in the Coke Commercial (TVC) in 2009 featuring Cricketer Gautam Gambhir and directed by acclaimed Dibakar Banerjee.

She featured on the cover of Rave Magazine in 2008, as one of the youngest achievers in Bollywood music. Also will be having live performance in IT Companies

Awards and Achievements[link]

Shweta has recently won the most Prestigious Indian Popular honor The Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (Telugu, South Awards) for the Film Kotha Bangaru Lokam for the Super Hit Song Nenani Neevani on 31 July 2009 in Hyderabad, India.

She was nominated for Stardust Awards in 2005 for 'best New Musical Sensation' for her song in Aetbaar.

Filmography[link]

• Billa II (2012)
• Chaar Din Ki Chandni (2012)
• Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011)
• Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)
• Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011)
• Angel (2011)
• Tell Me O Khuda (2011)
• Partner (2008)
• Welcome (2007)
• Neal N Nikki (2005)
• Hisss (2010) *Soundtrack artist*
• Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006)
• Iqbal (2005)
• James (2005)
• Aamras (2010)
• Dil Jo Bhi Kahey (2005)
• Yeh Dooriyan (2011)
• Partner (2007)
• Teesri Ankh
• Shiva (2006)
• Downtown
• Zor Laga Ke Haiya (2010)
• Antardhwand (2010)
• Naach (2004)
• Fight Club (2005)
• Agyaat (2009)
• Fast Forward (2009)
• Gayab (2004)
• Aetbaar (2004)
• Prateeksha
• Hello Darling (2010)
• 3 Nights 4 Days (2010)
• Mr Hot Mr Cool
• Kathputli
• Vaada Raha (2009)
• My Friend Ganesha 3 (2010)
• Nayee Padosan (2003)
• Haasil (2002)
• Rudraksh (2003)
• RGV Ki Aag (2008)
• Kaash.. Mere Hote (2008)
• Deshdrohi
• Phoonk (2008)
• The Perfect Husband (2002)
• Mohabbatein (2000)
• Raju Chacha (2000)
• Dil Kya Kare (1999)
• Julie (2003)
• Aap Mujhe Ache Lagne Lage (2002)
• Soch (2002)
• Stumped (2003)
• Ye Kya Ho Raha Hai (2002)
• Disney's High School Musical and High School Musical 2 (dubbed in India) (2006)
• Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2009) - Telugu. Filmfare Award *Best Playback Singer*
• Allari Bullodu (2003) - Telugu
• Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw (2003) - Telugu
• Inkosaari (2010)
• Lagdha Ishq Ho Gaya (2010) -Punjabi
• Heer-Ranjha (2010) - Punjabi (2010)
• Maro Charithra (2010) - Telugu
• Leader - Telugu (2010)
• Badrinath (2011) - Telugu
• Panjaa - Telugu (2011)
• Bodyguard - Telugu (2011)
• Vettai - Tamil (2012)

Spiritual and Sanskrit Devotional Albums[link]

• 'Mahalakshmi' with Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj
• 'Dashavatar' with Rattan Mohan Sharma
• 'Ganesha' with Shankar Mahadevan
• 'Sukh Samriddhi Suraksha' with Shrradha Pandit

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Shweta Pandit on Twitter

Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar at the Global Rhythm 15th Anniversary Party in 2007
Background information
Born	(1981-06-09) 9 June 1981 (age 31) London, United Kingdom
Genres	Indian classical, crossover
Occupations	Sitarist, composer
Instruments	Sitar
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Angel Records (1998–2007), Deutsche Grammophon (2010–present)
Website	AnoushkaShankar.com

Anoushka Shankar (born 9 June 1981) is a British Indian sitar player and composer who lives between the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. She is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and Sukanya Shankar. She is the paternal half-sister of Norah Jones.^[1]

Personal life and education[link]

Shankar was born in London and divided her childhood between London and Delhi. As a teenager, she lived in Encinitas, California and attended San Dieguito Academy. A 1999 Honors graduate, Shankar decided to pursue a career in music rather than attend college.^[1]

Anoushka married British director Joe Wright.^[2] Their first child, Zubin Shankar Wright, was born on 22 February 2011.^[3]

Career[link]

Anoushka and Ravi Shankar in concert, 2005

Shankar began training on the sitar with her father as a child, and gave her first public performance at the age of thirteen at Siri Fort in New Delhi. By the age of fourteen, she was accompanying her father at concerts around the world, and signed her first record contract, with Angel Records (EMI) at 16.

Though success came at an early age for Shankar, she was still uncertain if music was the career she wanted to fully pursue. "The question was continually back and forth in my mind," she admits. "After I graduated from high school, I made a decision not to go to college and start touring full-time. Even at that time, I thought maybe I’d do it for a year and see what happens. During that year, it became so clear to me that that was my life and who I was– a touring musician."^[4]

She released her first album, Anoushka, in 1998, followed by Anourag in 2000. Both Shankar and Norah Jones were nominated for Grammy awards in 2003 when Anoushka became the youngest-ever and first woman nominee in the World Music category for her third-album, Live at Carnegie Hall.

2005 brought the release of Anoushka’s fourth album RISE, earning her another Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary World Music category. In February 2006 she became the first Indian to play at the Grammy Awards.

Shankar, in collaboration with Karsh Kale, released Breathing Under Water on 28 August 2007. It is a mix of classical sitar and electronica beats and melodies. Notable guest vocals include Norah Jones, Sting, and Ravi Shankar who performs a sitar duet with his daughter.

Anoushka has made many guest appearances on recordings by other artists, among them Sting, Lenny Kravitz and Thievery Corporation. Duetting with violinist Joshua Bell, in a sitar-cello duet with Mstislav Rostropovich, and with flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal, playing both sitar and piano. Most recently Anoushka has collaborated with Herbie Hancock on his latest record The Imagine Project.

Anoushka has given soloist performances of her father's 1st Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra worldwide. In January 2009 she was the sitar soloist alongside the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for the series of concerts premièring her father’s 3rd Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra, and in July 2010 she premiered Ravi Shankar's first Symphony for Sitar and Orchestra with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at London's Barbican Hall.

Anoushka has also ventured into acting (Dance Like a Man, (2004)) and writing. She wrote a biography of her father, Bapi: The Love of My Life, in 2002 and has contributed chapters to various books. As a columnist she wrote monthly columns for India's First City Magazine for three years, and spent one year as a weekly columnist for India's largest newspaper, the Hindustan Times.

Anoushka recorded her next album in Madrid, Spain. Released in autumn 2011 "Traveller" is an exploration of the commonalities and differences between classical Indian music and Spanish flamenco, and features the talents of Shubha Mudgal, Tanmoy Bose, Pepe Habichuela, Sandra Carrasco and Duquende among others.^[5]

Benefit concerts[link]

On 29 November 2002, Anoushka Shankar was the opening act at the Concert for George, a posthumous tribute to the life and music of George Harrison, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She was the principal performer in the entire first set or "Indian portion" of the concert. She opened the show by playing a solo sitar instrumental titled "Your Eyes". Also on the sitar, she performed George Harrison's "The Inner Light" with Jeff Lynne (vocals and guitar). Lastly, she conducted a new composition, Arpan, written by her father. The composition featured Eric Clapton playing acoustic guitar. The concert was modelled after Ravi Shankar's benefit concert with Harrison, the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh.

Anoushka Shankar was invited by Richard Gere and Philip Glass to perform in a concert at the Avery Fisher Hall in 2003 in aid of the Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation. Shankar and Jethro Tull postponed a concert scheduled for 29 November 2008 in Mumbai after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. They reorganised the performance as A Billion Hands Concert, a benefit performance for victims of the attacks, and held it on 5 December 2008. Shankar commented on this decision stating that: "As a musician, this is how I speak, how I express the anger within me [...] our entire tour has been changed by these events and even though the structure of the concert may remain the same, emotionally perhaps we are saying a lot more."^[6]

Awards[link]

• British House of Commons Shield, 1998^[7]
• Voted Homecoming San Dieguito High School, Class of 1999
• Woman of the Year (shared with Kareena Kapoor, Ritu Beri, and Rhea Pillai) awarded on International Women's Day 2003^[1]
• Named as one of 20 Asian Heroes by the Asia edition of Time in 2004
• Nominated for a Grammy award in 2003 in the World Music category for her third-album, Live at Carnegie Hall. She was the youngest-ever and first woman nominee in this category.
• In 2005 she was nominated for another Grammy, in the Best Contemporary World Music category for her fourth album RISE.

Activism[link]

Shankar is a supporter of animal rights and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She and her father appeared in a thirty-second public-service announcement against animal suffering.^[8] Anoushka is also the spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme in India.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• Anoushka (1998)
• Anourag (2000)
• Live at Carnegie Hall (2001)
• Rise (2005)
• Rise Remixes (2006)
• Breathing Under Water (2007)
• Traveller (2011)

Live and compilations[link]

• Full Circle: Carnegie Hall 2000 (2000)
• Concert for George (2003)
• Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation (2007)
• Live in Concert at the Nehru Park, New Delhi (2005)

Features[link]

• Variant Moods – Duet For Sitar & Violin (Abridged Version) Written by Ravi Shankar, At Home With Friends by Joshua Bell 2009
• Charu Keshi Rain – Co-written by Nitin Sawhney and Anoushka Shankar, London Undersound 2008
• Mandala – Featuring Anoushka Shankar on sitar. Co-written by Hilton Garza, Radio Retaliation
• Beloved – by Anoushka Shankar remixed by Thievery Corporation – Versions 2006
• Rebirth – Co-written by Gaurav Raina, Tapan Raj and Anoushka Shankar. MIDIval Times 2005
• Sacred Love – by Sting 2003
• 8 classical ragas performed on ShankaRagamala composed by Ravi Shankar 2005
• Chants Of India – Ravi Shankar; George Harrison, featuring Anoushka as Conductor & Assistant 1997
• Adarini – In Celebration composed by Ravi Shankar 1995

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Anoushka Shankar

• Official site
• Anoushka Shankar at the Internet Movie Database
• The show must go on – Video interview about A Billion Hands Concert
• Anoushka Shankar: Different Worlds, One Musical Language – Video interview about performing Ravi Shankar's Concerto No. 3 for Sitar and Orchestra.
• Anoushka Shankar Live : Gypsy Music From India to Spain on Medici.tv

Bickram Ghosh
Bickram Ghosh in Kolkata 2011
Background information
Born	(1966-10-20) 20 October 1966 (age 45) Kolkata, West Bengal
Origin	India
Genres	Indian classical music
Occupations	Composer, Actor
Instruments	Tabla
Labels	Angel, Music Today, Sa Re Ga Ma
Website	Bickramghosh.com

Bickram Ghosh (born 20 October 1966) is an Indian tabla player performing in Hindustani classical music as well as fusion music.^[1]

Early life[link]

Bickram was born in Kolkata, West Bengal to the tabla maestro Pandit Shankar Ghosh and classical vocalist, Sanjukta Ghosh. He studied at La Martiniere for Boys, Kolkata and did his graduation in English from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata and Masters in English Literature from Jadavpur University.

He started learning tabla from his father Pandit Shankar Ghosh and accompanied him.

Career[link]

Bickram Ghosh performed with musical legends like Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar.^[2] He also performs jugalbandi with his father in some concerts.

Future projects[link]

Bickram Ghosh will soon^[when?] be launching a percussion course called Repercussion for Ace Open University. Here he will be teaching an extensive Tabla Curriculum designed by himself via Online streaming lessons to aspiring students worldwide. His music company called Melting Pot Productions launches in October.^[3]

Personal life[link]

He married Harleen Kaur in 1994.^[4]

Discography[link]

Bickram Ghosh performing in 2011

Solo albums:

• Electro-Classical
• White Note
• Talking Tabla (Music of the World)
• A Tabla Odyssey

Collaborations

• Full Circle (Grammy winning title ^[5] with Pandit Ravi Shankar)
• Brainwashed (with George Harrison)
• Chants of India (with Ravi Shankar, George Harrison)
• Indo-Jazz (with Yosi Levy, Ilan Salem)
• One (with The Mezcal Jazz Unit)
• Interface (with Rahul Sharma)
• Kirvani (Music of the World)
• Drumscape
• Drum Invasion
• Nomad Christmas (Music of the World)
• Beyond Rhythmscape
• Pulsating Drums (with Zakir Hussain, Taufiq Quereshi)
• Blazing Drums
• The Afro-Indian Project
• The Kingdom Of RHYTHM (With Pete Lockett)
• Syama Songs of Love and Dreams
• Sitar Recital
• Raga Rasa- That Which Colors The Mind
• Tagore Lounge

Filmography[link]

As actor:

• Hotath Neerar Jonnyo
• Choy

As composer:

Bengali

• Piyalir Password (2009)
• Neel Rajar Deshe (2008)
• Devaki (2005)
• Iti Srikanta (2004)

Hindi

• Sooper Se Ooper (2012) Film
• Jal (2011 film) (2011)
• Gumshuda (2010)
• Little Zizou (2009) (with Giuliano Modarelli)

References[link]

• Nettl, Bruno; James Porter, Alison Arnold (2000). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent (Volume 5). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-8240-4946-2. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&pg=PA136&dq=Shankar+Ghosh+tabla&cd=7#v=onepage&q=Shankar%20Ghosh%20tabla&f=false. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bickram Ghosh

• Official website
• Bickram Ghosh at the Internet Movie Database
• Bickram Ghosh at the Internet Movie Database