Falguni Mitra is a reputed and erudite Hindustani classical vocalist who is known as a Dhrupad exponent of India. Pandit Mitra belongs to the Pandit Falguni Mitra combines the Dagar style of “Alaapchari” with the Betia style of Dhrupad and Dhamaar with a distinctive stamp of his own personality.
Early life
Pandit Mitra was initiated early into music by his father, Sangeetacharya Shib Mitra, at the age of five, who was himself trained under the tutelage of Pandit Bholanath Pathak of Varanasi.
Education and work
Pandit Mitra completed his Intermediate from St. Xaviers College, Kolkata; Bachelor's Degree from Vivekananda College, University of Madras and then earned a master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Madras. He had a career in management with a multinational, Cookson Group TLC. Along with his professional career, he also pursued music and took it to an extent which was to be soon recognized as his own rendition of Dhrupad, in India and across the world. He was the Guru and Prefect of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata from 1999 to 2010 Pandit Falguni Mitra has received appreciation for his lecture-demonstrations and articles in various journals in the country and also abroad.
Music career
Mitra is a performer in the Indian music circuit. He is known for his mastery in the Dhrupad style of the Betia Banaras Gharana along with the Dagar alap style. He has been critically acclaimed over the last 50 years. His several accolades, bestowed titles and honors reflect his work as a vocalist where he brings to the fore the work with an exemplary sense of proportion and a unique sense of innovation. He sings alap, nomtom and Dhrupad compositions in all the four Banis, namely, Gaurhar, Dagur, Nauhar and Khandar. He avoids splitting the words during upaj and thereby preserves the poetic integrity of those compositions. He is also known to sing many rare ragas in the Dhrupad style.
Program in collaboration with Smt. S. Sowmya on original Hindustani and Carnatic songs followed by Rabindranath Tagore's compositions on the same, Music Academy, Chennai. 1996
Pandit Mitra composed music for Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, dance ballet Meera of Mewar at Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, 1985.
Artist at Prakriti Foundation
Honors
Honored by the South Madras Cultural Association on 3 March 1996.
Dhrupad Ratna by Dhrupad Kala Kendra, Indore on 28 March 1998.
Sangeet Ratna Alankaran by Sree Kashi Sangeet Samaj on 19 February 2012.
Sangeet Bharati by Sri Satyananda Mahapith, Jadavpur on 26 February 2016.