BHUBANESWAR Based young Hindustani classical vocalist Sagarika Pradhan is hardly being heard in her own State while she has been a familiar face and voice in the music circuits in South India today. The appreciation that she received from the critics and the connoisseurs for her recitals in prestigious platforms like the Andhra Music Academy and Swaralaya Music and Dance Festival in Kerala speak volumes of her talent and achievement as an emerging artiste.
Sagarika’s recitals remind one of the peerless voice of the legendary Sunanda Patnaik.
Following her performance in the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Dance and Music festival in Bhubaneswar last year, connoisseurs asked her if she was being trained by the Kolkata-based legendary Oriya singer while she was not. “Coincidentally, my father was the student of Sunanda Patnaik’s father and he was very fond of her voice. In fact, it was his wish that one of his daughters should be a singer. If I am into music today, it is due to his encouragement,” reveals Sagarika whose idol is Sunanda Patnaik.
“My guru Uma Charan Das Maharaj is a saint and a singer. He has taught me that music is not meant to reach out to the public but to the divinity. He tells me that it should be one’s puja and life-long sadhana. I have seen these two commitments towards music in Sunanda Patnaik and that is why whenever I am in Kolkata, I spend maximum of my time at her place. She has been my greatest inspiration,” the young singer confided.
Trained in the Gwalior gharana by Guru Uma Charan Das Maharaj from the tender age of five and later for a few years by Guru Harihar Khuntia, Sagarika graduated with economics and got into a decent job in marketing sector. But her heart was with music that brought her back to her guru, who has set up the Chitrakoot Ashram in the capital, for a lifelong sadhana with music.
Though equally adept at different genres of music like classical, semi classical, Sufi, fusion and raga-based bhajans, Sagarika is more fond of the semi classical genre of music. “I was very fond of the film music that was based on the ragas and I always loved to sing semi-classical music,” she admitted.
How come she is lesser known in her home state than outside? “Unfortunately, we have very limited scope for classical musicians here. Moreover, I follow my Guruji’s instructions and do not run after anyone to avail opportunities,” she explained. And how comfortable is she with a career in classical music in a state like Orissa? “For me, music is not a profession. It is my passion through which I gain the greatest joy of my life. Believe it or not, music works as medicine for me. Whenever I am ill, I listen to music or start singing. And that cures me sooner than any medicine,” claims Sagarika as she leaves for Kerala for a concert.
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