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{{short description|Indian classical vocalist}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{fan POV|date=July 2022}}
{{overly detailed|date=July 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Pandit]]
| name = Ajoy Chakrabarty
| image = Ajoy-chakrabarty-duringprogramme.webp
| caption = By Stuti Sakhalkar
| birth_name = Ajoy Chakrabarty
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1952|12|25}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| website = https://ajoychakrabarty.com/
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| origin = [[Shyamnagar, West Bengal]], [[India]]
| genre = [[Hindustani classical music]]
| years_active = 1977–present
}}
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| occupation = [[Vocalist]]
| children = [[Kaushiki Chakraborty]], Ananjan Chakraborty
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2020)
}}

'''Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty''' (born 25 December 1952) is a [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani classical]] [[Singing|vocalist]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Jyotirmaya |date=19 March 2005 |title=Ahoy Ajoy! |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/03/19/stories/2005031901280300.htm |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=11 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050506120503/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/03/19/stories/2005031901280300.htm |archive-date=6 May 2005 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> composer, lyricist and an exponent of the [[Patiala gharana|Patiala-Kasur gharana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajoychakrabarty.com/ |title = Learn Bengali Classical Music – Live from Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty}}</ref> He was awarded with the [[Padma Bhushan]], the third highest civilian award in India in 2020 and the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award in India in 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/padma-honours-for-ajoy-chakraborty-manilal-nag/articleshow/73621920.cms | title=Padma honours for Ajoy Chakraborty, Manilal Nag | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=26 January 2020 | access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/former-ministers-arun-jaitley-sushma-swaraj-and-george-fernandes-given-padma-vibhushan/articleshow/73617205.cms | title=Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, George Fernandes given Padma Vibhushan posthumously. Here's full list of Padma award recipients | newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] | date=26 January 2020 | access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS |url=https://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/2020AwardeesList.pdf |website=padmaawards.gov.in |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>

==Early life ==
Ajoy Chakrabarty was born in Kolkata, [[West Bengal]]. He was raised with his brother in [[Shyamnagar, West Bengal|Shyamnagar]]. His younger brother, Sanjay Chakrabarty, is a lyricist and composer.

He graduated top of his class in music, both in B.A and M.A. from the [[Rabindra Bharati University]] in Kolkata and joined the [[ITC Sangeet Research Academy]] in 1978 as its first scholar. Today he is one of the youngest gurus of this academy.

His father, Ajit Chakrabarty, was his first Guru. He then studied with Pannalal Samanta, Kanaidas Bairagi and [[Jnan Prakash Ghosh]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Jyotirmaya |date=28 April 2006 |title=In honour of Bade Khansaheb |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/04/28/stories/2006042801520300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104045003/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/04/28/stories/2006042801520300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref>

Besides that, he had learnt from Latafat Hussain Khan, Nibruttibua Sarnaik, Hirabai Barodekar and in Carnatic styles from [[M. Balamuralikrishna]], that kept enriching his musical expression and repertoire.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Swaminathan |first=Chitra |date=2016-11-25 |title=Ajoy Chakrabarty talks about his association with Balamuralikrishna |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/%E2%80%98The-stage-feels-empty%E2%80%99/article16699591.ece |access-date=2023-03-07 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Despite having such pure classical "taleem" in the [[Khyal]] genre, he also renders lighter forms such as [[Thumri]], [[Tappa]], [[Bhajan]], [[Kirtan]], [[Indian folk music|Folk]], Film/Non-Film and modern songs, in several different languages.

He has received several prestigious awards including the [[Padma Shri]] (2011), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Delhi, 1999–2000), [[Kumar Gandharva Samman|Kumar Gandharva]] National Award (1993) and the Best Male Playback Singer Award (Bengali Film "Chhandaneer" 1990) ("For bringing the rare depth of emotion, adorned by his command on the classical idiom") and [[Tansen Samaroh|National Tansen Samman]] 2015 - by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soulsteer.com/Gwalior/hindustani-classical-vocalist-pandit-ajoy-chakrabarty-awarded-201415-national-tansen-samman/|title=Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty|date=2015-12-25|publisher=SouLSteer|access-date=2015-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225184432/http://soulsteer.com/Gwalior/hindustani-classical-vocalist-pandit-ajoy-chakrabarty-awarded-201415-national-tansen-samman/|archive-date=25 December 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He has also received felicitations from both the former and present Chief Ministers of his own State, [[West Bengal]]. In 2012, Chief Minister of West Bengal, [[Mamata Banerjee]] conferred him the Maha Sangeet Samman and the [[Banga Bibhushan]], two of the State's highest awards. In 2015 he has received Guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh Lifetime Achievement Award.

He also was awarded honorary citizenship in New Orleans, after performing with jazz musicians at Preservation Hall, the birthplace of jazz music.

He had received his honorary doctorate degree in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and other dignitaries from [[IIT Kanpur]]. He was honored for his exemplary contributions in his respective field.

==Singing career==

He has been invited to perform in [[Pakistan]] and [[China]] and by BBC for their Golden Jubilee Celebration of India's Independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianclassicalmp3.org/ajoy.htm|title=Ajoy Chakraborty Live on the BBC}}</ref>

He has performed in some of the most prestigious venues around the world such as [[Carnegie Hall]], [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts|The Kennedy Center]], New Orleans Jazz Preservation Hall in the US, the [[Royal Albert Hall|Royal Albert hall]] and Queen Elizabeth Hall in the UK and [[Théâtre de la Ville|Theatre de la Ville]] in France. In addition to that, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty performed at the [[Aga Khan Museum]] in Toronto, Canada in 2018 for the Raag-Mala Music Society of Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vocal Recital By Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty: Sept 8, 2018|url=http://agakhanmuseum.org/programs/vocal-recital-by-pandit-ajoy-chakrabarty|access-date=2020-11-04|website=Aga Khan Museum|language=en}}</ref>

Inspired by the ideals of his Guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Chakrabarty founded [[Shrutinandan]], a school of music.

==Personal life==
Ajoy Chakrabarty is married to Chandana Chakrabarty. His daughter, [[Kaushiki Chakraborty]], is also a vocalist of [[Hindustani classical music]]. Their son, Ananjan Chakraborty, is a sound engineer.

==Films==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Song !! Film !! Co-Singer !! Composer !! Lyricist
|-
|rowspan="2" |1985|| Bela Jay Shyamrai || ''Baidurjya Rahasya'' || None || [[Tapan Sinha]] || [[Tapan Sinha]]
|-
| Nain Mein Nandalal || ''Baidurjya Rahasya'' || None || [[Tapan Sinha]] || [[Tapan Sinha]]
|-
|rowspan="1" |1999|| Ore Jaat Jaat koris kano || ''Niyoti'' || None || [[Manoranjan Saha]]|| [[Bablu Samaddar]]
|-
|rowspan="2" |2000|| Isaiyil Thodanguthamma || ''[[Hey Ram]]'' || None || [[Ilayaraja]] || [[Ilayaraja]]
|-
| Har Koi Samjhe || ''[[Hey Ram]]'' || None || [[Ilayaraja]] || [[Ilayaraja]]
|-
|rowspan="1" |2001|| Aan Milo Sajna || ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' || [[Parveen Sultana]] || [[Uttam Singh]] || [[Anand Bakshi]]
|-
|rowspan="2" |2005|| Yeh Kaun Mujhe Yaad Aaya || ''[[Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story]]'' || None || [[Naushad Ali]] || [[Naqsh Lyallpuri]]
|-
| Vaishnava Jan To || ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]'' || [[Kaushiki Desikan]] || [[A. R. Rahman]],(originally composed by [[Narsinh Mehta]]) || [[Sukhwinder Singh]]
|-
|rowspan="1" |2011|| Bhorer Alo || ''[[Bhorer Alo]]'' || None || [[Jeet Gannguli]] || Priyo Chattopadhyay
|-
|rowspan="1" |2013|| Rabso Neha Laage ([[Bilaval]] [[Bandish]]) || ''[[Shunyo Awnko]]'' || [[Kaushiki Desikan]] || [[Gautam Ghose]] || [[Gautam Ghose]]
|-
|rowspan="1" |2020|| Garaj Garaj || ''[[Bandish Bandits]]'' || rowspan="2"| None || [[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]] || Sameer Samant
|-
|rowspan="1" |2023|| Dawsh Awbotaar Stotra || ''[[Dawshom Awbotaar]]'' || [[Anupam Roy]]|| [[Jayadeva|Joydeb]]
|}

==Awards==
{{BLP sources section|date=October 2021}}
*[[National Film Awards|National Award]] – 1989
*Kumar Gandharva Award – 1993
*[[Sangeet Natak Akademi award]] – 2000
*[[Padma Shri|Padmashree]] – 2011<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Banga Bibhushan]] – 2012
* Alva's Virasat Award – 2012<ref>{{cite news |date=6 January 2012 |title=Alva's Virasat off to a flying start |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2779899.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref>
*Tansen Samman - 2015
*Pandit Omkarnath Thakur Shastriya Sangeet Award - 2014 - 2015
*[[Padma Bhushan]] 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2020 Announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197647 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ajoychakrabarty.com/ Ajoy Chakrabarty Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110725015311/http://www.asavari.org/Ajoy_Chakrabarty.html Ajoy Chakraborty in Asavari]
*[http://www.asianclassicalmp3.org/ajoy.htm Ajoy Chakraborty: Live on BBC]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070321170230/http://www.shatatantri.com/artists/Ajoy_Chakrabarty/ Ajoy Chakrabarty Biography and discussion forum]

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{National Film Award Best Male Playback Singer}}
{{Bengal Film Journalists' Association Best Male Playback Award}}
{{Authority control}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2020–2029}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakrabarty, Ajoy}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Hindustani singers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rabindra Bharati University alumni]]
[[Category:Thumri]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Singers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Best Male Playback Singer National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Indian classical musicians of Bengal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Khyal singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]]

Ajoy Chakrabarty - Revision history

imported>Reeshavp at 14:00, 22 March 2025