Kirit Khan

Ustad Kirit Khan was a talented Sitar player of the Indian subcontinent. He was born on 29th October 1955 in Comilla, Bangladesh and later settled in Kolkata, India. He comes of an illustrious family of musicians. He is the second son of Ustad Bahadur Khan, a reputed Sarod artiste and the younger brother of Bidyut Khan, who is actively propagating the musical culture of the family. He is also the grandson of Ustad Ayet Ali Khan, the brother of legendary Ustad Alauddin Khan.

^{Portrait of Kirit Khan, Source: "Monthly Sargam", Dhaka, October 2006}

Early life

At the age of seven, Kirit started learning music. First he took his lessons on "Tabla" and later on "Sitar". He learnt Sitar from his father Ustad Bahadur Khan till his death in 1989. He acquired sheer virtuosity in his fingers under the strict mentorship of his father. In 1976 he appeared in front of audience with a duet concert (Sitar and Sarod) with his father and that was the start of his glorious career [ cite web |url= http://www.rutadeseda.org/india-evento01.html|title= Festival of Music and Dance of the World |work= August 10, 2003 ] . From then on he played Sitar in home and abroad continuously.

Performance in Major Concerts in India

Among his memorable concerts is a duet performance with his father in the 'Sursringer Music Conference' in Mumbai in 1986. In 1987 he was showered with appreciation for his solo Sitar recitals in Mumbai organized by 'Ustad Abdul Halim Zafar Khan Academy'.In the same year (1987) he participated in a duet concert with his father in 'Tansen Music Conference'.In 1991 he was highly appreciated at the 'Surdas Music Conference' in Kolkata.In 1999 he was highly acclaimed by audience at the 'Dover lane Music Conference' in Kolkata.

Tours

He had toured different countries in the world performing with his Sitar since 1978. The first countries he toured are Russia, and Cuba. Then in 1988 he rendered his recitals in Germany, and England.In 1989 he played sitar in Middle East.In 1999 he performed in Denmark, Switzerland, N. Ireland (Belfast), and Scotland (Edinburgh) [ cite web |url= http://iccr.tripod.com/junetosep99.htm |title= Kirit Khan's Europe Tour |work= In "Programmes Newsletter": Archives, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, June - September 1999 ] .In 2003 he performed in South America (Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru) [ cite web |url= http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/features/column/radhika.asp |title= Dancing Sisters in South America |work= In "kutcheribuzz.com", August 2003 ] [ cite web |url= http://meaindia.nic.in/foreignrelation/29fr04.htm |title= CARCOM cultural festival |work= In Report titled ‘India-Suriname Bilateral Relations’, published by Foreign Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, December 2003 ] , and Sweden.

Awards and Recognition

He received several awards and appreciation for his contribution in music. In 1984 he obtained the title Suramani from the ‘Haridas Music Conference’, and later Surjhankar in Mumbai [ cite web |url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030611/cth2.htm#11 |title= Sitar maestro’s stress on ‘parampara’|work= "The Tribune, Chandigarh", June 11, 2003 ] . In 1985 he was given a reception in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh, as the soil’s bright son, with a golden key as a token of their sincere appreciation.

Music Direction in Films

Besides playing sitar he also engaged himself as a music director in different films. He worked with his father as an assistant music director in Hindi Films ‘Garam Hawa’, ‘Amabashya Ki Chand’. He also worked as assistant Music director in Bangla films ‘Natun Pata’, ‘Jukti Takko Goppo’, ‘Je Jekhane Dariye’. He was the solo music director of the film Nilkanya. He started a documentary film called ‘Gharana and Paramarara’ which has been sponsored by Government of India. The theme of the film was to make the younger generation aware of "Parampara" (Teacher-student interactive learning) and concept of "Gharana" (Schools of music) [ cite web |url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030611/cth2.htm#11 |title= Kirit Khan's Filmography |work= "The Tribune, Chandigarh", June 11, 2003 ] .

Teaching Sitar

Though a busy artiste he also engaged himself as a music teacher In Ustad Bahadur Khan Music Academy in Kolkata and thus played a role to spread Indian classical instrumental music. He was a visiting teacher on sitar in Indian Music Academy in Frankfurt, Germany [ cite web |url= http://www.openpr.com/news/10462/COSMIC-ORIENT.html |title= Indian Music Academy in Frankfurt |work= Cosmic Orient, July 28, 2007 ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.pracheenkalakendra.org/activities_baithak.php Pracheen Kala Kendra (Copyright © 2005), Baithak Programme]
* [http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bahadur_Khan Ustad Bahadur Khan]
* [http://www.newagebd.com/2006/mar/24/time.html 'Ramkanai Das captivates audience'] , "Daily New Age", March 24, 2006
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/255895.cms ‘Music fest at Ravindra Bharati’] "The Times of India", October 28, 2003
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031029/ncr2.htm 'Sangeet Swarn: A golden chance for music lovers'] "The Tribune, Chandigarh", October 28, 2003