Musicologist, Music Critic, Author, Meena Banerjee, a disciple of Pandit Amarnath (Kirana Indore Gharana), post graduate in Sanskrit, Sangeet Prabhakar in classical vocal and tabla, trained in thumri-ghazal, Rabindrasangeet and a dedicated student of musicology, Banerjee initially emerged as a vocalist and has performed extensively in India and abroad.

At the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, she taught musical terminology and language to SRA scholars, edited ‘Parampara’, the newsletter of the Academy and translated relevant articles from Hindi, Bengali to English. This led her to another exciting world. She translated precious books like Kudrat Rang Birangi (by Pandit Kumar Prasad Mukherji), Komal Gandhaar (autobiography of Ustad Vilayat Khan) from Bengali to Hindi and Sangeet ke Dedeepyaman Soorya Ustad Amir Khan by Pandit Tejpal Singh (Singh Bandhu)from Hindi to Bangla and English. By itself, this is a path-breaking work in the field of inter-lingual adaptations.

Since 1983 she emerged as a music critic and continues to contribute in a number of prestigious English, Bengali and Hindi dailies and magazines. She is also on the panel of visiting lecturers of Kolkata Films and Television Institute (KFTI) and teaches musicology to budding film directors. As an ideator and presenter of ‘Raga-Rasa-Sahitya’ LIVE on stage, based on recitals of eminent vocalists, she strives to revive interest in forgotten dialects of Hindi and to discuss their correct meaning and enunciation. As member of the Jury she evaluates several pan-Indian contests of Hindustani classical music.   

Meena is also the author of the book on Padmashri Pandit Vijay Kichlu. To mark his 90^th birthday, she co-directed a docu-film on Pandit Vijay Kichlu. Her works fetched several awards including ‘Media Excellence Award’, ‘Abhinavgupta Samman’ (named after renowned musicologist of ancient India), ‘Lifetime Commitment and Dedication to Music’, Swayamsiddha Award.

The archival 52-episode TV Serial ‘Raag Rang Shastra ke Sang’, conceived and presented by Pandit Vijay Kichlu and telecasted  on DD Bharati, was researched, scripted and coordinated by her.

Born in September 1930 in Almora, in present-day Uttarakhand, Padma Shri Pandit Vijay Kumar Kichlu is a unique combination of executive ability and artistry. He received his initial training in music under Nathuram Sharma, and while at college in Varanasi, became a disciple of Moinuddin Dagar and Aminuddin Dagar, the Senior Dagar brothers. He also benefited from guidance in music from Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan of the Agra gharana and has an impressive record of public performances, including performing over All India Radio and Doordarshan. Vijay Kichlu holds a master’s degree in History from the University of Allahabad and after a successful career as a senior business executive in Calcutta (now Kolkata) planned and managed the Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) set up by ITC Ltd in 1977. As Executive Director of the institution for almost 24 years, he committed himself to the preservation and propagation of Indian classical music. A revolutionary institution, the SRA remains the only residential institution in India that imparts intensive advanced training in ‘raga’ music through the age-old Gurukul system. Vijay Kichlu has received several awards, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Ratna and Fellowship award. An authorized biography, this book takes you on a musical journey of an erudite musician and fluent speaker on music, whose aim in life through different phases and in different roles has always been to be a student and a devotee of this ‘Mohini Vidya’

The book is a wonderful read into Vijay Kichlu's life and musical journey. It's charmingly narrated, with lots of interesting details about Indian classical music and makes you feel like you are a part of the story, viewing it from the outside.

Publisher: Roli Books

Pages: 320pgs

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira