Biography

Koyel Dasgupta Naha is a Hindustani Classical vocalist, composer and educator. Koyel equally excels in the North Indian Classical genre of Khayal as well as its lighter siblings - Thumris and Dadras -  including the folk inspired Chaitis, Kajris etc. Koyel holds an A grade in both Khayal and Thumri in All India Radio and  is empanelled in Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under Govt. of India. A gold medalist from Rabindra Bharati University, Koyel  holds a master degree in hindustani classical music from the university where, at a later period, she had been associated as guest lecturer and examiner.

As a performer, Koyel is a renowned name in the Hindustani music of the present time. She has enthralled audiences across the length and breadth of the country in her career spanning over 25 years. She has appeared in major music festivals in India  -  Ministry of Culture of India, Sangeet Natak Akademy, National Center for Performing Arts, All India Radio and Television, to name a few of the notable ones. 

Audience blessed her with a wave of appreciation and unconditional love while awards and accolades  were bestowed over her including the prestigious President's award for her outstanding contribution towards traditional Indian classical music.

Her rigorous training in traditional styles of Kirana, Vishnupur and Sham-Chaurasi Gharanas and rare ability to extract and  imbibe their elixir to develop her own Avant Garde style rendition of Khayal music that is truthful and honest with her own personality and aesthetics.

She is also an immensely popular exponent of the light classical music forms such as Thumri and Dadra which are rooted deeply from regional folk music and poetry based on Ragas and represents a lost era of Indian music of the early 15th century. 

Over the years, Koyel has developed a unique personalized and experiential approach of teaching which is a direct inheritance of primordial “Guru-Sishya” tradition  of Indian heritage  adapted to modern day society. While she specializes in advanced training of the intricate nuances of this high art, she is always fascinated by the defining moments of the young ones' fabulous journey on this mystic wonderworld.

 

Early life and influences

The little girl's sweet voice prompted her parents to name her ‘Koyel’ - which literally  means a singing bird. Having shown extraordinary talent towards music and rhythm, little Koyel was swiftly introduced to the rich tradition of classical music of India. Koyel was put into a stricter discipline of ‘Taleem’ coupled with a regime of rigorous riyaz(traditional practice) with utmost attention and devotion. She was gradually exposed to the abstract beauty of Raga through the Bandishes(traditional compositions), voice techniques and the finer technical aspects.

Years of dedicated practice and hard work transformed her into a refined and elegant in her rendition and matured her perfection of expression and compactness of delivery. Honors and Accolades also started showering in as the musical fraternity welcomed this beautiful voice.

Another notable influence and source of inspiration since her early ages has been her maternal uncle sitarist Pandit Harashankar Bhattacharya, the foremost disciple of Padmabhusan Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer khan Sahib and the great Ustad himself.

Training and Gurus 

Koyel was introduced to the magnificent world of Indian Classical Music in her tender age by Shree Pulin Chakraborty of Kirana Gharana. Later she had advanced training in Khayal from  Vishnupur Gharana Maestro Pandit Nihar Ranjan Bandhopadhya. Shri Bandhopadhya also noticed Koyel’s inherent creativity of expressing moods and feelings in Thumri and initiated her to the semi classical music as well. 

Presently Koyel is undertaking guidance of Poorab ang Thumri from Vidushi Manju Sundaram of Benaras. She was also blessed to have the tutelage of Late Bidushi Purnima Choudhuri of Benaras Gharana of Thumri. 

Though for a short period, Koyel was fortunate to have Talim from Ustad Bhiswadeb Bhattacharya (disciple of legendary Salamat and Nazakat Ali Khan of Sham Churasi Gharana ) and Kirana Gharana maestro Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan. 

press

Awards and accolades

  • Suramani, Kal Ke Kalakar
  • Radio competition winner
  • President’s award
  • Dover lane competition winner
  • Rajya Sangeet competition winner
  • Pandit Ravi Kichlu foundation music competition winner
  • National scholarship from ministry of culture and tourism government of India
  • Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR) empanelment
  • Girija Shankar Chakravarty award
  • Rabindra Bharati gold medalist in Bachelor of Music degree
  • Rabindrabharati university first class in masters of music degree

 

Accolades

ICCR artiste
Sur mani from Kal Ke Kalakar
President’s award
Winner of Doverlane music competition
National scholarship from Indian ministry of culture and tourism
Gold medalist from Rabindra Bharati University
Awarded by West Bengal State music academy
Winner of Ravi Kichhlu music competetion

Major performances

  • Pune – Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan
  • Kolkata – Thumri Festival organized by Shruti Nandan 
  • Kolkata - Chaudhuri House Thumri Festival 
  • Goa - Samrat Sangeet Sammelan 
  • Vishnupur- Music Festival, All India Radio concert
  • Delhi- Ibtida, Jashn E Begum Akhtar at India Habitat Centre
  • Delhi – Ruh e Ghazal,Jashn e Begum Akhtar by Sangeet Natak Akademi
  • Jamshedpur – Prabashi Bharatiya Sangeet and Nritya Mahostav organized by Prachin Kala Kendra Chandigarh and Swaranjali
  • Kolkata - Nadam, Mohit Moitra Mancha
  • Raipur- Dr. AnitaSen Jayanti Samaroh Ministry of Art & Culture,
  • Gaya - Bodh Mahotsav
  • Kolkata- Jalshaghar, ICCR
  • Mumbai- Classical Roots by Kalasangam
  • Mumbai- Umang series organized by National Center for Performing  Arts (NCPA)
  • Bihar, Kesariya -  Kesariya Mahotsav
  • Ahmedabad- Jashn E Begam Akhtar organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi
  • Boroda – Tribute to Ustad Rahman Khan organized by Parul University
  • Kolkata – Gurupurnima organized by Madhyami
  • Gaya - Sursalila Gaya Ji
  • Kolkata – Marwa That Baithaki 
  • Kolkata – Yagna organized by Arati Music Foundation 
  • Ahmedabad – Amir Khushru Festival
  • Lucknow- Tribute to Begum Akhtar at her Mazhar.
  • Lucknow – Awadh Festival
  • Varanasi- Subah E Benaras
  • Kolkata- Anandamoyee by Vidushi Sipra Bose Foundation, Rabindra Sadan
  • Ahmedabad- Kalavant Music Festival
  • Patna - All India Radio Music Festival.
  • Ahmedabad - Sangeet Natak Academy,"Ruh E Gazal",Jashn E Begum Akhtar
  • Bihar - Art & Culture , Sangeet Bihaan ,Government of India.
  • Kolkata - Kolkata Music Forum
  • Kolkata - Bhawanipur Sangeet Sammelan.
  • Nagpur - Sangeetam Music Festival.
  • Delhi - Habitat Centre .
  • Kolkata - Tribute to Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan.
  • Kolkata - Bharatiya Sangeet Parishad
  • Ranchi - Gharowa Music Conference

Teaching methods, experience

Experience - Koyel has over 20 years of experience as a teacher. She specializes in advanced training in both Khayal and Thumri/Dadra genre. She also has developed a highly effective methodology for the young ones in their initial journey to the art form.

Method - She has developed a highly personalized journey of a student through the various stages of proficiency levels

  Beginner-Advanced Beginner-Competent-Proficient-Expert.

Each stage has a definite entry and exit criteria with stress on ability to demonstrate progress through musical performance.

Her scientific methodology, voice training, step by step voice culture, individual care and analysis and feedback empowers the students through highest technical ability.  

Students are also exposed to the spiritual essence of this high art which elevates the proficiency beyond technicality. 

Students achievements - Koyel is fortunate to have students achieving high level of excellence and recognized through Universities, All India Radio  as well as winners in various competitions.

Entrance - Students need to have a very short assessment phase which helps create their entry point and help create the customized journey map for their musical journey. 

Couple of short presentations ( face to face or video clip) and a short questionnaire is needed which helps create the journey map.

Upon confirmation of the entry process a student will start their journey in this wonderworld.

Promoter of culture

  • Director of Aarohi arts association, non profit cultural organization working to promote Indian classical music among youth
  • Ex- lecturer at Rabindra Bharati university
  • External Examiner at Rabindra Bharati university