Anchor 2

baba alllauddin 1_edited_edited_edited_edited.png

Curriculum Vitae

Pandit Dishari Chakraborty is a globally acclaimed and profoundly versatile Indian classical musician, celebrated for his exceptional command over the Shata-Tantri Veena, more commonly known as the Kashmiri Santoor. With an illustrious career spanning over 35 years, he has carved a unique space in the world of music through his work as a performer, educator, composer, and cultural ambassador.

What sets Pandit Chakraborty apart is his pioneering approach to the Santoor within the Senia Maihar Gharana, one of the most prominent traditions in Hindustani classical music. As there is no established lineage or formal legacy of the Santoor in the Maihar tradition, He is regarded as a self-taught maestro on the instrument. His revered gurus—direct descendants of the Senia Maihar Gharana—acted as philosophical and musical guides, offering him deep insights into the gharana’s stylistic grammar. However, he independently adapted this knowledge to the Santoor, inventing new techniques and expanding its expressive capabilities.

Confronted with this absence, he undertook the challenge of carving a path for himself within the gharana’s aesthetic framework. To bridge this stylistic and pedagogical gap, he immersed himself in the rigorous study of other classical instruments central to the Maihar idiom, including the Sarod, Sitar, Tabla, Harmonium, Naal-Tarang, and Pakhawaj. Each of these disciplines deepened his understanding of rhythm, melody, and structural nuance.

Simultaneously, he cultivated a strong foundation in European classical music, engaging deeply with its harmonic, contrapuntal, and orchestral traditions. This eclectic and expansive training not only refined his musicianship but also enabled him to craft a distinctive voice on the Santoor — one that resonates with the spirit of Maihar while expanding its boundaries into new sonic territories. His artistic vision transcends traditional boundaries.

A child prodigy, Pandit Chakraborty received his first international award at the age of 12 in Oslo, Norway, marking the beginning of his lifelong contributions to Indian classical music and Art. This early recognition was a harbinger of a prolific and dynamic career that would span diverse domains of artistic expression, from classical music to contemporary performing arts.

Deeply rooted in the traditions of Indian classical music, his artistry is characterized by both technical mastery and emotional depth. His compositions have seamlessly bridged classical purity with modern sensibilities, making him a sought-after composer and collaborator in the fields of film, theatre, and dance. His contributions extend beyond national boundaries. He has represented India on numerous international platforms and has been associated with cultural diplomacy through his involvement in various artistic programs commissioned by the

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). These projects have showcased his versatility, not only as a composer but also as a performer and cultural ambassador.

In 2022, his lifelong dedication to the promotion and evolution of Indian classical music was honored by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy bestowed upon him the revered title of “Pandit”—a rare and significant recognition from a neighboring nation’s apex cultural institution.

Over the years, he has crafted scores that enrich the narrative texture of over 140 theatrical productions, reflecting his exceptional ability to interpret and elevate dramatic storytelling through music. Since 2005, his work in theatre has garnered widespread acclaim, earning him the prestigious Natya Academy Award from the Govt of West Bengal in 2024, a testament to his enduring impact on the cultural landscape of Indian theatre.

Demonstrating his multifaceted talents, he also made a significant contribution to India’s cinematic heritage by directing the acclaimed Docu-feature “A Life in Dance: Pandit Uday Shankar” in 2017, produced by the Films Division of India.

Today, he continues to be a pivotal figure in India’s contemporary cultural scene—an artist whose journey is marked by precocious brilliance, sustained excellence, and a profound commitment to the arts. Pandit Dishari Chakraborty continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of musicians, carrying forward a living tradition with innovation, integrity, and spiritual depth.

Teaching in Music Education Institutes

►Officially appointed in the Department of Music and Dance, teaching multiple classical instruments and Orchestra in Bangladesh Shilpa Kala Academy,

Ministry of Cultural Affairs, The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

►Guest faculty of Music Design in the Department of Sound Design at the National Institute of Design (NID, Ahmedabad).

►Guest faculty of Music, teaching the use of music & sound in film at Ramesh Sippy Academy of Cinema & Entertainment(RSACE).

► Teaching multiple instruments and Hindustani classical Vocal in Kala Sahitya Academy, Chhattisgarh, & BHILAI STEEL PLANT, Govt. of India.

►Examiner in the Department of Film Studies at the University of Mumbai, India.

►Former faculty in the Department of Music at the Aashish Khan School of World Music, teach multiple instruments and Orchestra

Awards / Scholarship / Fellowship

► In the year 1993, Pandit Dishari Chakraborty was awarded at the age of 12 to be the first Indian to receive

an international Award Honorarium 5O, OOO/- INR

by the Anun Lund Rej Memorial Fund, Oslo, Norway, in the presence of the

Director of Vassboon School, Norway, the Mayor of Calcutta & the Royal Norwegian Consulate General

► In 2022, his lifelong dedication to the promotion and evolution of Indian classical music was honored by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

bestowed upon him the revered title of “Pandit”—a rare and significant recognition from a neighboring nation’s apex cultural institution

Ministry of Cultural Affairs, The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

► In the year 2024, Pandit Dishari Chakraborty was awarded Lifetime Achievement

for his complete contribution as a Music Director/Song Composer/Sound Designer in the field of Theatre

by Paschim-Banga Natya Akademi (PBNA), Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt of West Bengal

► In the 2015 Bridge, Pandit Dishari Chakraborty composed music and song for an Indo-U.K. collaboration Bengali movie

awarded the Remi winner at the 49th Annual World Fest-Houston International Film Festival, USA,

and also got the 12th International Film Award.

► Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme (C.C.R.T.) Scholarship received at the age of 10 years,

from 1992 to 2001, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

►1999 certificate signed by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (West Bengal State Music Academy).

►2001 C.C.R.T. Award of Scholarship (Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India).

►2004 certified by Padma Bhushan Annapurna Devi, the title of SURA-BHARATI.

►2021 certified with the title of SangeetNandan.

►2022 honoured with the title of Sangeetmani (teacher training) contribution in instrumental music (Santoor).

►2021 Exchange Offer, a Hindi short film- winner of 37 international awards and officially nominated in more than 50 festivals.

►2007 Lal Juto won the National Award for Best Short Film and was awarded Best Creative Idea at the 11th Shanghai Film Fest.

►2010 Still Voices winner of Honourable Mention Student Film, Los Angeles Reel Film Festival and Chris Awards..

"Festival Spotlight: Master of Shata-tantri Veena"

►58th Annual Session of Dover Lane Music Conference 2010 with Ustad Aashish Khan and Pandit Swapan Chowdhury

in the memory of SwaraSamrat Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

►2022 Performed in Bangladesh Shilpa Kala Academy, Dhaka, organized by the Department of Music and Dance

on 2nd December in the presence of the Director General of the esteemed institute.

►Performed in the Anun Lund Rej Memorial Fund, Oslo, Norway, from 1993 to 1997 in the presence of the

Director of Vassboon School, Norway & the Royal Norwegian Consulate General at Kolkata.

►Performed in Inner Voyage, Friday 28th June, United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Dubai Women's College with

Ustad Aashish Khan and Pandit Swapan Chowdhury.

►138th Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan 2013, in Jalandhar – organized by Govt. of Punjab & Dept. of Tourism,

Govt. of India. The performance was a live telecast on DD-BHARTI.

► Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Kolkata, India. Organized events commemorating the 53rd anniversary of

Bangladesh's Victory Day (Bijoy Dibos) was held on December 16th, 2023.

►2022 Performed on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Sangeet Piyasi Music Festival was held on Day 3rd

13th November, Organised by Tabla Maestro Pandit Samar Saha

► At the age of fifteen, performed at the Swami Haridas & Tansen Music Festival, New Delhi.organized by Padmasree Uma Sharma Ji.

►Performed at the Baba Allauddin Khan Sangeet Samarah in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, in the years 2003, 2012, 2013, 2022,

organized by Ustad Alauddin Khan Music and Arts Academy, Govt of Madhya Pradesh.

►4th January 2016 performed with his Guru USTAD AASHISH KHAN at Chowdhury House Music Conference, Kolkata

►2022 Performed on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day of India, AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV, dedicated to

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA was held on 24th July 2022 in the Vivekananda Hall of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Hatamuniguda.

It's attended by 1000 people, with the majority being students.

►Performed at the Baba Allauddin Sangeet Samarah in Kolkata, West Bengal in the years 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023,2024,

organized by the Baba Allauddin Memorial Committee and the Department of Culture and Information Affairs, West Bengal Government.

►2023 Performed on the occasion of the Ramakrishna Mission 125th Anniversary and 75th Independence of India AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV,

dedicated to SWAMI VIVEKANANDA, was held at Ramakrishna Mission Vidya Mandir, Belur Math.

►2023 Performed in Bhilai International Theatre Music & Dance Festival, Organised by Kala Sahitya Academy, Chhattisgarh,

NOSTALIA’80 & BHILAI STEEL PLANT - Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

►2022 Performed in Kalimpong Slik-Rout Festival, Organised by Mani Trust and the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.

►All Bengal Music conference 2013 at Kelat Bhavan, Kolkata, organized by Rabin Pal's Jalsa-Ghar

►First solo Santoor recital in public at the age of nine at Jalan House, organized by Professor Ustad Dhyanesh Khan.

►Performed twice at Ram Krishna Mission Ashram, Narendrapur, on the occasion of Saraswati Puja & once at