Acclaimed ghazal maestro Sudeep Banerjee reveals the soul of his music in a heart-to-heart conversation with The Pioneer
As the silken threads of Urdu poetry weave a tapestry of emotions, the ghazal—an ancient and revered form of Indian classical music—continues to enthrall audiences with its haunting beauty. In a world where musical trends ebb and flow, the ghazal remains an enduring testament to the power of art to transcend time and touch the human soul.
In this exclusive conversation, we delve into the world of ghazals with Sudeep Banerjee, a masterful exponent of this classical genre, as he shares his insights, inspirations and the timeless allure of the ghazal.
It was a privilege to have the distinguished ghazal singer onboard with The Pioneer as he shares his experiences and insights with us. Fresh from his latest performance, Banerjee spoke about his musical journey, inspirations and the importance of promoting good literature and poetry.
Born in Allahabad, his musical journey began in Delhi, where he received his basic music education from Shrimati Shanti Hirananda ji, a senior disciple of the legendary Begum Akhtar. Trained in Khayal and Dadra, Banerjee performed extensively in Delhi before moving to Mumbai to pursue his dreams. In Mumbai, he not only established himself as a singer but also as a music composer, working on numerous music albums, feature films and ad films.
Banerjee’s journey has been marked by collaborations with legendary singers. He reflected, “I have done recordings with Jagjit Singh, Ustad Rashid Khan, Bhupinder Singh, Hariharanji, Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas and Shreya Ghoshal, among others.” These experiences have not only honed his craft but also exposed him to different styles and approaches to music.
When it comes to ghazal singing, he draws inspiration from two legends: Begum Akhtar and Mehdi Hassan. He confessed, “Mehdi Hassan has been a huge inspiration for me. Whatever he has sung, his style of singing has inspired me a lot.” He also acknowledged the influence of Jagjit Singh, with whom he worked closely for several years. “After Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh has been a very important person in my life because I worked with him for 5-6 years, so I knew him. I knew how he was working. There was so much to learn from him,” he added.
In a musical landscape that is increasingly dominated by commercial and popular genres, his commitment to ghazal singing and his passion for promoting good literature and poetry are truly commendable. As he continues to enthrall audiences with his soulful renditions, his contributions to the world of Indian classical music and ghazal singing remain invaluable.
The singer reflected on their early life and influences, mentioning their work with various artists, including Jagadish Singh and Pankaj Udhas. “I have learned from my dear son, but I have also learned from Jagadish Singh sir and Pankaj Udhas ji. I have been personally working with Pankaj Udhas and unfortunately, we lost him this year.”
When asked about the current state of the ghazal industry, the singer noted that despite the loss of legends like Pankaj Udhas and Jagadish Singh, the genre is experiencing a resurgence. “In fact, ghazal is now going back to its big form because a lot of singers are coming into ghazal singing and a lot of youngsters are coming into ghazal singing.”
The singer attributed this growth to events which they have been a part of for the past 12 years. “We always include new singers every year, and we do a talent hunt called Khazana Talent Hunt for the best ghazal singers.” They noted that the event receives numerous entries, primarily from young singers, indicating a strong interest in ghazal singing.
However, the singer also highlighted the challenges faced by the new generation of ghazal singers. “Ghazal is not just music; it’s poetry; it’s Urdu. You have to know the language; you have to learn Urdu; you have to learn about poets.” They emphasised the importance of understanding the literary context and the lives of poets like Mirza Ghalib, Jigar Moradabadi and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
The singer noted that the new generation’s desire for instant success and fame can be a hindrance to truly mastering the art of ghazal singing. “They want everything instant. They want instant success. They want to get fame very fast, but they forget that this is a long process.”
The singer concluded by discussing their upcoming projects, including a concert series based on the poetry of Begum Akhtar, which they will be performing with Rekha Bhardwaj. “Rekha Bhardwaj and I are old friends from college. We did that show and we are taking that show to other cities also.”
They also mentioned a new project that explores the history of Urdu poetry over the past 350 years, featuring the works of 15 prominent poets. “I’ve compiled around 15 of the greatest poets, and we do concerts on those 15 poets. We will also do an album and concert.”
As he travels across the country, performing in various cities, he was asked which city intrigued him the most. He revealed that Delhi holds a special place in his heart, “Because Delhi has a culture of Urdu poetry, and all big poets love Delhi. So Delhi is always one of my favorite cities.” However, he also shared a recent memorable experience in Kolkata, where he performed a tribute show for Pankaj. “I was surprised to see a packed audience and people were enjoying the puzzles. So every city has its own benefits and every city has its own fan following, but I still think North India, especially Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat, again has a very good audience for ghazals.”
When asked about his advice to upcoming singers who want to make a career in ghazal singing, he emphasised the importance of clarity and perseverance. “It’s very tough to be a singer in the first place, even if you want to be a film singer. It’s very difficult. Any kind of art form is difficult, whether it’s for a painter, writer, or singer.” He stressed that focus, clear goals and a willingness to put in years of hard work are essential.
For those interested in pursuing ghazal singing specifically, he highlighted the importance of learning the language and understanding the poets. “They must know not just the ghazal but about the poet also. Unless they don’t know about the poet, they won’t be able to give that expression in their ghazals.” He shared his own experience of learning Urdu literature and poetry, which took several years.
“I learned several years ago. I learned Urdu literature. I can really write Urdu poetry in the language also. When I went to my guru, Shanti ji, the first thing she told me was that I should go and learn Urdu—not just speaking, but also reading and writing. So I have read and written in Urdu. I learned it from the Urdu Academy. I took a 2-year course, and then I could read it in Urdu, and it was hard work, but that is all paying me now.”
