Kaushiki Chakraborty is an Indian classical vocalist who is popularly known for her singing in different languages like Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Carnatic.
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Wiki/Biography
Kaushiki Chakraborty was born on Friday, 24 October 1980 (age 42 years; as of 2023) in Kolkata, India. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. Kaushiki completed her primary education at the Patha Bhavan School, Kolkata. At the age of 10, she went to the academy of Jnan Prakash Ghosh to learn Indian Classical Singing. She attained her graduation in philosophy at Jogamaya Devi College, Kolkata, in 2002. Kaushiki attended Jadavpur University in Kolkata for her master’s degree in philosophy. In 2004, she graduated from the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, situated in Kolkata and became a scholar of the same academy. Kaushiki also attended her father’s music academy, Shrutinandan School of Music in Kolkata.
Kaushiki Chakraborty’s childhood photo
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 55kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Kaushiki Chakraborty’s father, Ajoy Chakrabarty, is a famous Indian Classical Vocalist and the recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award. Her mother, Chandana Chakrabarty is a musician.
(Left to right) Ajoy Chakrabarty, Chandana Chakrabarty, and Ananjan Chakraborty
Kaushiki Chakraborty has a brother, Ananjan Chakraborty, and he is a sound engineer.
Kaushiki Chakraborty with her brother, Ananjan Chakraborty
Husband & Children
Kaushiki Chakraborty got married to Parthasarathi Desikan on 9 July 2004.
Kaushiki Chakraborty’s wedding photo
The couple got blessed with a son, Rishith, on 16 November 2009.
Kaushiki Chakraborty with her son, Rishith
Career
Singer
Albums
Kaushiki Chakraborty made her album debut in 1998 with ‘New Generation Series: Footsteps,’ which was released by the label Music Today.
Kaushiki Chakraborty’s first album ‘Footsteps’
In 2003, Kaushiki Chakraborty released a new folk album, ‘Swar Sadhna.’ The other artists that were part of the album were Yogesh Samsi, Yogesh Dutt, and Brajeshwar Mukherjee.
Kaushiki Chakraborty’s folk album ‘Swar Sadhna’
In 2013, Kaushiki released a new album, ‘Jhanak – Mesmerising Classical Renditions,’ which was a collaboration album with her father, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty.
Kaushiki Chakraborty’s collaboration album with her father, Ajoy Chakrabarty
In 2018, Kaushiki Chakraborty released an album ‘Nightingale Of The East.’ The album consisted of 4 Indian Classical songs.
Singles
In 2020, Kaushiki Chakraborty was featured for a single ‘Saiyaan Bol,’ in Salim–Suleman’s album ‘Bhoomi-2020.’ The album had various songs with different artists like Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sukhwinder Singh.
Kaushiki Chakraborty in a still from her song ‘Saiyaan Bol’
Kaushiki Chakraborty has sung many Bengali songs like ‘Chorabali’ (2018), and ‘Bhorer Shishir’ (2021).
Bollywood
Kaushiki Chakraborty made her Bollywood singing debut with ‘Vaishnava Janaiho,’ from the film ‘Water’ (2005). The song was composed by A.R. Rahman, and the film starred actors like Lisa Ray and John Abraham. Kaushiki Chakraborty sang three songs in the Hindi film ‘Gulaab Gang’ (2014) which starred famous actors like Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. The songs sung by Kaushiki were ‘Dheemi Dheemi Si,’ ‘Ankhiyaan,’ and ‘Rang Si Hui.’ Kaushiki Chakraborty sang for the film ‘Shikara’ (2020) which was directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Kaushiki sang ‘Teri Arzoo Mein’ with her co-singer, Papon.
Live Performances
Kaushiki Chakraborty has performed at various prestigious concerts like Spring Festival of Music in California, USA, in 1997, ITC Sangeet Sammelan in 2019, Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan in Punjab in 2021, and The Indo-American Association (IAA) in Houston in 2023.
Kaushiki Chakraborty perfroming live at ITC Sangeet Sammelan 2019
Television
In 2012, Kaushiki Chakraborty started her own Bengali talk show ‘Gaan Golpo Aar Gaan.’ The show featured personalities like Joy Sarkar and Ajoy Chakrabarty.
Kaushiki Chakraborty in a still from her talk show
Kaushiki Chakraborty(extreme right) with her parents as guests in her talk show
In 2019, Kaushiki Chakraborty was a judge in the singing reality TV show ‘Super Singer Junior.’ Kaushiki was accompanied by the famous singer Kumar Sanu and music director, Jeet Ganguly.
Kaushiki Chakraborty (centre) with Jeet Ganguly (left) and Kumar Sanu (extreme right) in Super Singer Junior
In 2020, Kaushiki was also on the judging panel of ‘Super Junior’ along with singers Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Shaan.
Tattoo
Kaushiki Chakraborty has got a tattoo of “Grace” inked on her left arm; a musical instrument, Sitar, is also inked beneath the word “Grace.” According to Kaushiki, grace and music are two pillars in her life.
An Instagram post about Kaushiki Chakraborty’s tattoo
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Kaushiki Chakraborty won the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music for the Asia-Pacific category in 2005.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty won the Sangeet Natak Academy’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for ‘Hindustani Vocal Music’ in 2010.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty won the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikar & Kalakiran Puraskars for ‘Most Promising Hindustani Classical Vocal Artist’ in 2013.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty won the ‘Sera Bangali (Music) award’ at the ABP Ananda Sera Bangali Sammelan in 2017.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty received an award at West Bengal Maha Samman 2019 from the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee.
Kaushiki Chakraborty receiving the award at West Bengal Maha Samman 2019
- Kaushiki Chakraborty won the Hungama- Indian Independent Music Awards for ‘Best Classical Song’ for ‘Raga Kedar- Drut Ektaal’ in 2022.
Kaushiki Chakraborty with her IIMA Award
- Kaushiki Chakraborty received the Nari Shakti Puraskar from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in 2020.
Kaushiki Chakraborty receiving the Nari Shakti Puraskar
Favourites
- Food: Thai green curry, prawns
- Book(s): The Secret, Many Lives Many Masters
- Travel Destination(s): Venice, Hawaii, Bali, Alaska
Facts/Trivia
- Kaushiki Chakraborty is a student of Jnan Prakash Ghosh, who was also the mentor of her father, Ajoy Chakrabarty.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty’s first public performance was when she was 7 years old, at the Calcutta Rowing Club, where she sang a ‘Tarana’ (a composition of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music).
- Kaushiki Chakraborty learned Carnatic music from Vidwan Balamurali Krishna in 2002.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty owns an online music academy named ‘Kaushiki Chakraborty’s Music & Us.’
- Kaushiki Chakraborty formed the first all-women’s classical band named ‘Sakhi’ in 2015.
Kaushiki Chakraborty with her band ‘Sakhi’
- Kaushiki Chakraborty belongs to the Patiala Gharana. She is acclaimed as ‘The Torchbearer of the Patiala Gharana.’
- Kaushiki Chakraborty’s dream collaboration is with Shankar Mahadevan.
Kaushiki Chakraborty with Shankar Mahadevan (right)
- Kaushiki Chakraborty plays Sitar during her free time and often shares videos on her social media.
Kaushiki Chakraborty playing Sitar
- BBC released a short film in 2019, based on Kaushiki Chakraborty’s musical journey.
- In 2023, Kaushiki Chakraborty was looted of 2 lakh rupees from an employee in her music academy. The employee was then arrested by the police.
- Kaushiki Chakraborty admires many prominent singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Kishore Kumar, and she often shares pictures of her visit to their places on social media.
Kaushiki Chakraborty with Lata Mangeshkar (right) in Mumbai
Kaushiki Chakraborty with her son, Rishith and Asha Bhosle (right)
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn