Purbayan Chatterjee, one of India’s leading sitar virtuosos, launched his highly anticipated album Sitar Stories on September 23, 2024, at the prestigious Ajivasan Hall. This event saw the presence of notable musicians such as Shankar Mahadevan, Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, and Sudesh Wadkar, marking a momentous occasion for Indian classical music.
The album, an ode to the sitar, showcases the instrument’s incredible versatility, blending traditional Hindustani music with contemporary elements. Chatterjee describes his vision for Sitar Stories as a “harmonious collision of two religions, two musical cultures, and two idioms,” highlighting the sitar’s ability to bridge worlds. The album is not just a collection of ragas but a narrative that explores the entire spectrum of the sitar, from the traditional surbahar to the modern electric sitar.
The album opens with Miyan Ki Todi Alap Jod, a tribute to the 16th-century musician Miyan Tansen, recorded using an eight-microphone setup to bring out the grandeur of the surbahar. The following tracks, such as Lalit and Bilaskhani Todi, showcase Chatterjee’s virtuosity, accompanied by tabla maestro Yogesh Samsi. Tracks like Satyagrah fuse acoustic and electric sitars with modern elements, offering a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The album also features a nostalgic nod to Bollywood, with Bollywood Beauty inspired by legendary composer S.D. Burman.
Chatterjee’s mastery is evident throughout the album, both as a performer and a visionary, capturing the spirit of Indian classical music while pushing its boundaries. His collaborations with top musicians like Ustad Zakir Hussain and Shankar Mahadevan, and his leadership in innovative projects like the Shastriya Syndicate, underscore his stature in both traditional and contemporary music scenes.
Purbayan Chatterjee’s Sitar Stories is not just an album; it’s a celebration of the sitar’s timeless legacy and its evolving role in global music.