Kunal Saha
Quick Facts
Biography
Kunal Saha is a santoor artist from Eastern India. He is best known for representing India at One Asia, a concert organised by the consulate general of Japan to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relationship between Japan and India.. He is also known for designing music "Rising Venus" for Kolkata Fashion Week: Tejas Gandhi's Mademoiselle collection embodies freedom of women.To mention his recent success, Devonix a unique music Album Saha has released along with his co-music composer Pradyut Chatterjea featuring Bhajan Samrat Sri Anup Jalota with his devotional renditions with Electronic Fusion and World Music for the very first time.He has a band named Blendz which is the only Ethnic Electronic Fusion Band from Eastern India
Early life
Kunal started getting acclamation from childhood. He started playing santoor at the age of 5. During Plus-II, he created a fusion band. With the guidance of his Guruji Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya, at the age of eight, Kunal started his public stage performances and also participated in the classical programmes at the All India Radio Station regularly.
Career
In 2006, Kunal formed his own band called Blendz, the only Ethnic Electronic Fusion Band from Eastern India. Kunal and his band Blendz participated in India's Got Talent (Season 1) Colors (TV channel) (Season 1) and were among the finalists of the Independence Day Episode, which brought him and his work in the limelight. He also delivered a performance with his Guru Tarun Bhattacharya at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The Calcutta Classical Guitar Society and the Indian Guitar Federation organised a unique "Monsoon Music Festival" at Gorky Sadan. Saha is one of the luckiest performers to present a vigorous version of Megh (raga) incorporating long Meend, complex layakari, robust stroke-play and vociferous dialogue with tabla.
In 2011 Saha performed in a unique show called ‘Ishtara-The Genesis’where dancer Mom Ganguly was his co performer. 2012 saw the beginning of Saha’s collaboration with the talented flautist, Soumyajyoti Ghosh. This Santoor-Flute Duo is known as 'KounterPoint' and they have more recently collaborated with the famous Japanese folk band Aun and Hide to perform together in their “One Asia” concert. The concert saturates the 60th anniversary of India–Japan relations in diplomatic field. In the same year Kunal along with his band Blendz added a unique factor to a fashion show of Tejas Gandi, a renowned Kolkata Based Fashion designer, by playing live music called “Rising Venus” which strongly underlined the theme of the show – the freedom of women.
Kunal is one of the Indian artists who participated in the Monsoon Music Festival in 2013 arranged by Siddha Foundation along with so many international artists.
In 2015, Kunal along with his co-music composer, Pradyut Chatterjea, released their unique ever lasting Music Album named Devonix from Times Music. The album features Bhajan Samrat Sri Anup Jalota with his devotional renditions with Electronic Fusion and World Music for the very 1st time.
Recently, Kunal formed his own Sufi Band Aafreen.
Awards and citations
1. At the age of ten, he got the 1st prize at the All India Quest organized by The Telegraph (Calcutta).
2. Saha was blessed with the accolades from the great violin maestro, the late Pt. V. G. Jog.
3. Kunal received Young Acheiver’s award from Shanghati Society U.K. for his contribution in the field of music.
Discography
- Devonix (2015) with Anup Jalota and Pradyut Chatterjea on Bhajan