Kirit Khan

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Portrait of Kirit Khan, Source: Monthly Sargam, Dhaka, October 2006

Ustad Kirit Khan was a talented Sitar player of the Indian subcontinent. He was born on October 29, 1955 in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh and later settled in Kolkata, India. He comes of an internationally renowned illustrious family of musicians of Bangladesh, which produced a galaxy of famous classical musicians like, Ustad (Maestro of Music) Dr. Alauddin Khan, the world reputed Maestro of Seni-Maihar and Alauddin Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music (North Indian Style), Ustad Ayet Ali Khan (his grand father), Ustad Dr. Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bahadur Khan (his father), Ustad Khadem Hossain Khan, Ustad Abed Hossain Khan, Ustad Mir Kashem Khan, Ustad Phuljhuri Khan, Ustad Khurshid Khan, Ustad Shahadat Hossain Khan, Annapurna Devi, Reenat Fauzia and many others. He is the second son of Ustad Bahadur Khan, a reputed Sarod artiste and the younger brother of talented Sarod player Bidyut Khan, who was still actively propagating the musical culture of the family until his recent illness. Kirit Khan died prematurely in 2006 due to kidney failure.

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.[1] From then on he played Sitar at home and abroad consistently.

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, Northern Ireland (Belfast), and Scotland (Edinburgh).[2] In 2003 he performed in South America(Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru),[3][4] 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.[5] 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 Parampara’ 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).[6]

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.[7]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. August 10, 2003
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.In Programmes Newsletter: Archives, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, June - September 1999
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. In kutcheribuzz.com, August 2003
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. In Report titled ‘India-Suriname Bilateral Relations’, published by Foreign Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, December 2003
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 11, 2003
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 11, 2003
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cosmic Orient, July 28, 2007

External links