FIRST FEW STEPS OF THEIR MUSICAL JOURNEY

Sarodiya Brothers are two brothers – Arka Roy and Shounak Roy, both used to study in the same school, St. Lawrence High School, Kolkata and are the disciple of Legendary Sarod Maestro Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta (Padma Bhushan Awardee) of The Senia-Shahjahanpur Gharana. During their school days they used to play and represent their School with Indian Classical String Instrumental Music in SAROD in various events and in turn became popular as Sarodiya Brothers amongst their friends.

INTRODUCING THE YOUNGER BROTHER SHOUNAK ROY

SHOUNAK ROY, born in December, 2006, acquired interest in Music from his family since very early age and started learning Indian Classical String Instrument – Sarod at the age of 3 years from Legendary Sarod Maestro Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta (Padma Bhushan Awardee) of The Senia-Shahjahanpur Gharana, is now a Scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, West Bengal, India and is under the tutelage of Guru Shri Abir Hossain (Sarod).

SHOUNAK ROY HAS SECURED FIRST POSITION IN ZONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL COMPETITIONS IN CLASSICAL INSTRUMENT – NON PERCUSSION CATEGORY AT THE AIU INTER UNIVERSITY NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL 2024-25.

SHOUNAK ROY has secured First Position in the Instrumental Music Category (SAROD) at the State Level Music Competition-2024 organised by THE WEST BENGAL STATE MUSIC ACADEMY (পশ্চিমবঙ্গ রাজ্য সঙ্গীত আকাদেমি ), UNDER THE INFORMATION & CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL.

SHOUNAK ROY has received The “Telegraph Online Edugraph 18 under 18 Award – 2024” from The Telegraph online – ABP Digital for his remarkable achievements in the field of Art and Culture (Indian Classical Instrumental Music – Sarod) under the Age Group of 18 years, wherein 18 best candidates from different disciplines across Eastern India including West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh were awarded.

SHOUNAK ROY has been felicitated with the “STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2024 AWARD” for his excellence in all-round performance by THE TIMES OF INDIA, World’s Leading English News Paper on 29th November, 2024 at Kalamandir, Kolkata.

SHOUNAK ROY is a winner of the Jhankriti 2024 Music Competition in the Instrumental Music category and has been declared a Upadhi Winner – “VADYA VIGNYA” by The World Forum for Art & Culture.

SHOUNAK ROY is amongst the 50 young talented musicians selected Nationwide to receive Sri Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship in Music from Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai.

SHOUNAK ROY is a Gold Medalist and received The “Anirban Sinha Award – 2023” for his outstanding talent in Indian Classical Instrumental Music (Sarod) presented by The Telegraph Education Foundation.

SHOUNAK ROY PERFORMED SAROD IN VARIOUS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS LIKE

In 2024, SHOUNAK ROY performed Sarod Recital at the YUVA SASHTRIYA SANGEET SAMMELAN – 2024 at Sisir Mancha, Kolkata organized by the Information & Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal.

In 2024, Shounak performed in the Annual festival of Vistar School of Indian Classical Music and Performing Arts at Jadavpur University, Trigunasen Auditorium, Kolkata.

IN 2023, Shounak performed in National Seminar on Nimbarka Philosophy – 2023 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh organised by The World Nimbarka Parishad, Shri Shri Dhananjoy Das Kathia Baba Charitable Trust and Akhil Bhartiya Sri Nimbarka Mahasabha.

In 2023, Shounak performed for the VIEWCY INTERNATIONAL and displayed his remarkable talent and artistry during his performance in the Program ‘ANDAZ E MEJAAJ’, leaving an indelible impression on all those in attendance.

In 2023, Shounak performed Sarod Jugalbandi at the ‘Basant Ki Bahar’ Music Concert organized by SwarDarbar at the G.D. Birla Sabhagar, Kolkata with a Classical Soiree, in presence of eminent stalwarts of the Music fraternity.

Shounak Performed Sarod Jugalbandi with his elder brother at the KBR Bimalarpan Sangeet Mahotsav-2023 organised by Team Bhilai Anthem and Welfare Society, Bhilai in association with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) – Bhilai Steel Plant, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (IKSV), Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh and South-Central Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

On the Children’s Day–14th November, 2022, Shounak performed in the ‘Kishalay’ Program, of Sangeet Piyasi – Kolkata and was much appreciated for his sarod presentation.

In 2022 Shounak performed Sarod (online) in the event of ‘Evening Ragas’ conducted by the International Music Platform of VIEWCY in collaboration with Sangeet Parishad New York, Viewcy Studio, Sneh Arts, Kolkata Sitar School and Pandit Jasraj Institute.

In 2022, Shounak presented his Sarod performance in an International Live Digi-Concert organized by the Bay Area Music Circle, Barkeley, California, USA and received much appreciation globally.

In 2021, Shounak took part with Sarod along with his Guru in the Documentary film “Swabhiman Bharat” by NETWORK-18, CNN NEWS-18.

SHOUNAK ROY IS ALSO THE RECIPIENT OF THE FOLLOWING PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN MUSIC WITH SAROD LIKE 

The Doverlane Music Conference Talent Search Contest – 2023.

All-India KMF Music Competition – 2023 organised by the Taalsen Music Academy, Kolkata.

Inter-School Talent-Competition of ‘X-Uberance-2023’ organized by ST. XAVIER’S COLLEGIATE SCHOOL, KOLKATA representing his own School – ST. LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL, KOLKATA.

Inter-School Talent-Competition CHRYSALIS – 2023 organized by the Delhi Public School, Kolkata representing his own School.

Inter-School Talent competition INTERFACE – 2022 organized by The BSS School, Kolkata and Council for The Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi, representing his own School.

All-India Level Music Competition – 2022 organized by Sangeet Piyasi in the name of Legendary Tabla Virtuoso Pandit Krishna Kumar Ganguly.

The Swara Samrat Festival Global Championship – 2021, in the name of Legendary Sarod Maestro Swara Samrat Lt. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

All India Music Competition, KBR Bimalarpan Sangeet Mahotsav (Chattisgarh) – Sanyogita 2021, organised by Team Bhilai Anthem and Welfare Society Bhilai in the name of Acharya Bimalendu Mukherjee.

All-India Medha Anneshwan Music Competition – 2019 organized by Sutanuti Parishad, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

All-India Music Competition – 2016 organized by Chetla Murari Smriti Sangeet Sammilani, Kolkata.

All-India Talent Search Music and Dance Competition – 2016 organized by Vistar School of Indian Classical Music and Performing Arts.

Inter-House Music Competition – 2014 at his school – St. Lawrence High School, Kolkata.

All-India Power Talent Search Contest – 2012 of Talent Search India.

INTRODUCING THE ELDER BROTHER ARKA ROY

ARKA ROY, born in January, 2003, started learning Sarod since the age of 4 years from Padma Bhushan Late Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta of The Senia-Shahjahanpur Gharana and continued taking taalim on Hindusthani Classical Music in Sarod until Panditji’s demise. Subsequently he continued training under Panditji’s son and disciple Sri Bhabani Shankar Dasgupta and started extensive research work on Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta’s prolific contribution towards Indian Classical Music in Sarod.

Simultaneously, he is receiving a rigorous training in Taalkari and Laykari from Pandit Bivash Sanghai, Faculty and Academic staff at ITC-SRA and SHRUTINANDAN, Kolkata.

He had also received special training for many years on various styles of playing sarod from Shri Abir Hossain, who is one of the finest disciples of Padma Bhushan Late Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta and Padma Bhushan Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty.

SOME OF ARKA’S RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS 

Arka was granted the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) National Scholarship under the Scheme for award of Scholarship to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields (SYA) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in the field of HINDUSTANI MUSIC INSTRUMENT (SAROD).

He has secured the 1st Position (String Instrument Category) in The Doverlane Music Conference Talent Search Contest 2022-23 organized by The Doverlane Music Conference and The Doverlane Music Academy, Kolkata.

ARKA’S VERY RECENT PERFORMANCES 

ARKA performed in the periodical program of The Doverlane Music Conference and The Doverlane Music Academy at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata.

He performed Sarod Jugalbandi at the Basant Ki Bahar Music Concert organized by SwarDarbar at the G.D. Birla Sabhagar, Kolkata, in presence of eminent stalwarts of the Music fraternity and received much appreciation.

He performed Sarod in duet in the National Seminar on Nimbarka Philosophy organized by World Nimbarka Parishad, Shri Shri Dhananjoy Das Kathia Baba Charitable Trust and Akhil Bhartiya Sri Nimbarka Mahasabha at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

He played Sarod Duet on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shiv Ratri at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in presence of notable students and artist from the Banaras Hindu University.

He played Sarod Jugalbandi at the KBR Bimalarpan Sangeet Mahotsav organised by Team Bhilai Anthem and Welfare Society, Bhilai in association with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) – Bhilai Steel Plant, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (IKSV), Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh and South-Central Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Arka exhibited Hindusthani Classical Music in Sarod during CIVILUTION 2K23 – organized by The Techno India Group of Colleges and Universities at TMSL Salt Lake, Kolkata Campus.

These are the first few steps as they have begun their Musical Journey.