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Ronu Majumdar

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Ronu Majumdar
Ronu Mujumdar performing in Pune
Ronu Mujumdar performing in Pune
Background information
OccupationFlute player
InstrumentFlute
Years activeFrom 1980 till Date
Websiteronumajumdar.com

Pt Ronu Majumdar (born 22 June) is responsible of popularizing Indian Flute (Bansuri) in the younger generation of this era all over the Globe.

India's Ace Flautist needs no introduction to music lovers all over the Globe. By virtue of his phenomenal talent, he and the Bansuri are literally synonymous. If the flute is likened to a temple, Pt. Ronu Majumdar would be its foremost worshipper.

Pt. Ronu Majumdar is considered for the most respected name in the Indian Flute Playing of this era. When it comes to Flute, Pt. Ronu Majumdar is a style maker and has invented unique style of rendering the Raga, which has good mixture of 'Drupad Gayaki' with 'Laykari'. Pt. Ronu Majumdar is credited for making flute, a popular musical instrument amongst the youngsters of this era all over the globe. By virtue of his phenomenal talent, he and the ‘Bansuri’ are literally synonymous. Ry Cooder has rightly said 'Ronu is definitely the Dr. Feelgood of the Indian Flute'.

Ranendra Majumdar, popularly known as Ronu Majumdar is a force to reckon with in the realm of Indian classical music both as a thinking musician and scintillating performer. Pt. Ronu Majumdar began playing the flute under the guidance of his father Dr. Bhanu Majumdar, late Pt. Lakshman Prasad Jaipurwale and finally the revered Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao. He was also fortunate to receive training from his grand guru Pt. Ravi Shankar.

A powerhouse performer, Ronu Majumdar is firmly rooted in the Maihar gharana which has also given shape to sturdy musical oaks like Pt. Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. He has been felicitated with numerous remarkable accolades for his mesmerizing performances worldwide.

Ronuji has created an enviable niche for himself in the field of contemporary popular music which is exemplified by his Grammy Nomination in 1996.

Pandit Ronu Majumdar has composed music for India’s first I-Max film “Mystic India”.

Pt. Ronu Majumdar has conducted a concert of 5,378 flautists on one stage called ‘Venu Naad’ under the banner of ‘Art of Living’. This event is being recorded in Guinness Book of World Records.

Pt Ronu Majumdar has been awarded the ‘Sangeet Natak Academi Award for 2014’ for his contribution to Hindustani Instrumental Music – Flute.* Films Division of India has produced a documentary film on Pt. Ronu Majumdar called 'Bansuriwala' *

The android app - 'Ronu Majumdar Flute' which is absolutely free which in itself is a welcoming news for Pt. Ronu Majumdar’s fans all over the world. The app is also available on Windows and IOS.

Early life and training

Born on 22 June, Ronu's musical seeds were born inside him during his Varanasi days, where he was born. Those days Varanasi's musical atmosphere was at its peak hence Ronu was fortunate to be living in the midst of musical icons like Doyen of Tabla Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Thumri Queen Smt. Girija Devi & Ustad Bismillah Khan. Pt. Ronu had the fragrance of the musical air of Varanasi at his tender age.

Awards, nominations, and music collaborations

Ronu Majumdar performing in Pune
  • All India Radio Award (1981)
  • Aditya Vikram Birla Award (1996)
  • National Kumar Gandharva Award (2006)
  • Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar in the year 2008
  • Sangeet Natak Academi Award 2014 (2015)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award by Navbharat Times in the hands of Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri. Devendra Fadnavis

In 1981, Ronu Majumdar won the first prize at the All India Radio competition, and the President's Gold Medal.[1][2]

In 1996, Ronu received a Grammy nomination for his work on the album Tabula Rasa with Bela Fleck, the American banjo virtuoso. He has associated with Pandit Ravi Shankar on albums like Passages and Chants of India. He has more than 30 audio releases to his credit. He won the prestigious Aditya Vikram Birla Award in 1999 for his dedication to music. Sahara India Pariwar felicitated him with a lifetime achievement award on the occasion of Jyoti Diwas 2001. In 2014 he won the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award.


Today, Ronu Majumdar is among the more popular musicians on this instrument, and is especially popular with the younger generation for his creative improvisations. Pt Majumdar's music is rooted in the Maihar gharana which has musicians of eminence like Pt Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan to its credit. Apart from his concerts all over India in different music festivals, he also participated in the Festival of India in Moscow and Asiad '82 in New Delhi. He has toured extensively in Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Majumdar is also known for a number of collaborations and jugalbandis with other leading instrumentalists. An innovative composer, he has also composed several pieces in a fusion of Hindustani classical with other forms of music, particularly Western classical music, including the projects Carrying Hope (Music Today), A Traveller's Tale, Song of Nature (Magnasound), Kal Akela Kahan (Plus Music).

He has also provided short training sessions to budding young artists like Raghavendran Rajasekaran from Singapore. Most recently Pt. Ronuji has conducted a concert of 5,378 flautists on one stage called Venu Naad under the banner of ‘Art of Living’. This event was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Discography

An ace flautist, Ronu Majumdar has done great work in the country and internationally. Discography of Ronu Majumdar enlists some of his famous works:

  • 1993 - In Custody - a merchant ivory film - won the National Film Award
  • 1995 - Remembrance: Melodies of India
  • 1996 - Rag Jog
  • 1998 - Hollywood Hit: Primary Colours
  • 2000 - Hollow Bamboo: Experience the different bandwidths
  • 2002 - Krishna’s Journey
  • 2005 - Ekatman: Spiritual bonding of the Indian Ragas
  • 2006 - Fusion Yatra
  • 2006 - A sacred space
  • 2008 - Music for Pranayam
  • 2009 - Breathless flute
  • 2011 - Lady Astride the Tiger
  • 2013 - Timeless Tagore
  • 2015 - Flute Symphony
  • 2015 - Divine Flute: A soulful interpretation
  • 2015 - Krishna dancing with the flute
  • 2017- Journey: Folk music of India
  • 2017- Seven Raagas - Seven Raagas with beautiful music creation

Bollywood creations:

Non - film albums:

  • Dil Padosi Hai
  • Rakhaal Chandra Maataal
  • Saaton Baar Bole Bansi


References

  1. ^ "Sounds Of Indian Flute To Fill Cabell Hall On Oct. 2". University of Virginia News. 17 September 1999. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Flute Concert by Pt. Ronu Majumadar". SPIC MACAY, IIT Kanpur. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
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