Kushal Das

Pandit Kushal Das is a distinguished figure in the world of Indian classical music, celebrated as a leading master of both the sitar and the surbahar. Born in Kolkata in 1959 into a family steeped in musical tradition, his grandfather, the late Bimal Chandra Das, was a renowned Esraj player, while his father, Sri Sailen Das, and uncle, Sri Santanu Das, are highly regarded sitarists. He began his musical education at the age of seven, undergoing intensive and rigorous training under the guidance of Prof. Sanjoy Banerjee and the late Pandit Ajoy Sinha Roy. His style is deeply influenced by the Maihar gharana, particularly the repertoire of the legendary Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. To deepen his understanding of raga interpretation, he also took vocal lessons from Pandit Manas Chakraborty and Sri Ramkrishna Basu.

Throughout his illustrious career, Pandit Kushal Das has graced the stages of nearly every major music festival in India and across the globe. His notable performances include appearances at the Darbar Festival, the Tansen Music Conference, the Dover Lane Music Conference, and the ITC Sangeet Sammelan. He has collaborated with a host of eminent artists, including tabla maestros Satyajit Talwalkar, Pandit Kumar Bose, and Patri Satish Kumar. In addition to his mastery of the sitar, he has been performing on the surbahar since 2002 and has released numerous commercial albums, showcasing his profound musicality and technical brilliance.

In recognition of his immense contribution to Indian classical music, Pandit Kushal Das has been honored with several prestigious awards. He is a recipient of the 'Sangeet Visharad' from the Pracheen Kala Kendra in Chandigarh and the 'Sur-Mani' title from the Sur Singar Samsad in Mumbai. As a top-grade musician of All India Radio and Doordarshan, he is considered one of the foremost torchbearers of the rich tradition of Indian classical instrumental music, admired by critics and connoisseurs alike for his aesthetic appeal and masterful command over his instruments.