Banani Ghosh is a notable Rabindra Sangeet singer who has done justice with Tagore`s songs with her melody and appeal. Rabindra Sangeet for Banani Ghosh is priesthood. She started receiving training in Rabindra Sangeet when she was six years old. She also underwent a rigorous training in Indian classical music, traditional songs and Bhajans under eminent scholars in Kolkata and Santiniketan.
Early Life of Banani Ghosh
Banani Ghosh was born to a culturally sound family who originally belongs to Baligaun in Mymensingh district (now in Bangladesh) of unified India to father, Prafulla Krishna Ghosh. Her father shared a close intimacy with Rabindranath Tagore. He also possesses the talent of composing poems, writings stories and biographies of Indian illuminates.
Banani Ghosh, after completing graduation from Rabindra Bharati University - Kolkata, also did graduation from "Geetabitan" -Kolkata. Then she underwent three years` rigorous training at Santiniketan under the guidance of Padmashri Smt. Kanika Banerjee. Her voice has a stark resemblance with the voice of Kanika Banerjee, for which she is also known as "Nakal Mohar", as the former was popular as "Mohor". She also received training from Romesh Bandopadhyay, Sukhendu Goswami, Nani Gopal Chattopadhyya, Manju Gupta, Dilip Roy, D.L. Roy, Padmavibhusan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Padmashri Gyan Ghosh and Sri. Kshiti Mohan Sen Shastri, Saileja Ranjan Mazumder, Romesh Bandopadhyay, Anadi Kumar Dastidar and Maya Sen.
Career of Banani Ghosh
Banani Ghosh has lent her voice in the Bengali movie Pratisruti under the music direction of Late Hemanta Mukherjee. In the year 1961, under the music direction of Late Santosh Sengupta, she also executed Rabindra Sangeet in Tagore documentaries. Since the year 1957, Banani Ghosh has been associated with the highly esteemed Gramophone Company of India Ltd. and from the year 1982, she is associated with Polydor Rhyme Records. At the All India Radio, since the year 1954, she has been executing Rabindra Sangeet, Atulprosadi and Bhajans.
During her stay at Switzerland, Banani Ghosh used to perform on a regular basis from the BBC in London from the year 1961 to 1964 for their local and eastern services. Since its inauguration in the year 1975, she has been performing at Doordarshan Kendra. In the United States, she runs "Antara", a Rabindra Sangeet organization which trains thousands of students across the USA over the years. Also, throughout North America, Banani Ghosh executed Rabindra Sangeet on Radio and Television shows.
Achievements of Banani Ghosh
As recognition to her talent Banani Ghosh has been conferred with many accolades. The Indian Community of Rochester, New York conferred her Plaque of Honour in the year 1983. For her persistent commitment to upgrade the music of Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali Association of Singapore conferred her felicitation in the year 1985. The Banga Sammelan Committee in the year 1985 awarded her for her allegiance and unappeasable effort to promote the Bengali culture in USA and Canada. Rabindranath Tagore Lecture Foundation of Toronto, Canada, for being the musical ambassador to promote the genius of Tagore, in the year 1986 honoured her at the auspicious occasion of the 125th Tagore anniversary.