Quick Facts
Biography
Samrat Pandit (born August 21, 1982) is a Hindustani classical vocalist. He is a representative of Khayal singing of Patiala Gharana. He carries the legacy of his guru and father Pandit Jagdish Prasad and his father's guru : Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
Early life
Samrat Pandit was born in Kolkata, India. He belongs to a family of musicians and is the 6th generation from his family into music. His mother, Sandhya Pandit, English teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central governement school), is passionate of Indian classical music and learned khayal singing. His father is late Pandit Jagdish Prasad, renowned Hindustani classical singer of Patiala Gharana and direct disciple of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
In the early age, Samrat could recognize complex ragas and make notations of the musics played to him.
At age five, he participated in the “Bal Kalakar” program of All India Radio in Bhopal. When he was ten, he started to accompany his father in concerts in India and on television.
Career
Samrat launched his solo career in 2001, while continuing to offer vocal support in his father’s performances. He is a certified All India Radio artist since 2009 where he regularly records khayal and thumris for broadcasting.
He participated in TV shows accompanying his father and as a solo artist, in local channels Om Bangla TV, government channel Doordarshan and national channel Zee 24 Taas.
He did his first solo album in 2012 "Patiala Prince", supported by the renowned artists Girija Devi, Satish Vyas, Samresh Chowdhury and Rashid Khan.
He first toured in Europe in 2013 and participated in the fusion project of Nevcivan Özel in Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, one of Turkey's major concert halls.
He toured again in Europe in 2015 then North america the same year, including concerts in London and Toronto.
In 2016 he toured in Europe and was the first khayal singer to perform in the country of Lithuania in the capital Vilnius.
Performances
Pune 2012
He performed at the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival in Pune, in 2012.
He also performed at the Thumri Festival in Delhi, organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad, department of Art, culture and languages of the Government of Delhi, at Kamani Auditorium.
In his native Kolkata, Samrat appeared in notable venues including the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in 2010 and the Salt Lake Music Conference in 2011.
Musical style
Samrat is a Hindustani classical vocalist. He is a representative of Khayal singing of Patiala Gharana, carrying the legacy of his father Pandit Jagdish Prasad and his father's guru : Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. He sings mostly khayal music. He also sings thumri, bhajan and tappa.
His influences are :
Samrat's main musical influence is his father Pt Jagdish Prasad, he grew up listening to him and was groomed by him.
- singers : Barkat Ali Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Venkatesh Kumar
- musicians : Ali Akbar Khan, Niladri Kumar, Zakir Hussein
- styles : Bollywood 60's music , Ghazal, Tappa, Qawwali
He also has expressed his admiration for several musicians, including Michael Jackson, and appreciate world music and Balkan music
Personnal life
Samrat is graduated in English at the University of Calcutta.
He is also an ex-boxer and like physical activities. He believes in the importance of a well maintained body. Very young he used to enjoy cycling and speed. He won medals as a sprinter (running).
He apreciates adventure sports like mountain hiking and still do yoga.
Award
He received the Sangeeta Shiromani Award from the governor of Maharashtra in 2014.
Discography
- 2009: In rare moods with Pandit Jagdish Prasad - double DVD
- 2012: Patiala Prince
- 2016: Live in Goa - DVD