India’s Global Music Ambassador, Santoor Maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya is a pioneering and revolutionary classical musician.
He is one of the most celebrated torch bearers of Indian classical music, and has traversed the globe many times over performing in various awe inspiring venues around the world like Royal Albert Hall, Palace-de-beaux (Brussels), Theater- De-La-Viile (France), Apollo Theatre (Spain), Jubilee Auditorium (Canada), Kremlin (Russia). His mesmerized list of admirers includes Prince Charles, George Harrison, Paolo Solaris and other respected figures.
The famous Maihar Gharana’s only Santoor maestro, Pandit Bhattacharya has revolutionized the instrument as well as the style of playing it. He displayed for the first time ever (1980) that one could 'meend' or glide notes at the lower octave in a hammered instrument like Santoor.
Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya is the inventor of "mankas" or fine tuners that help tune the 100 stringed Santoor quickly, for longer lasting effect and to a very high degree of accuracy. His innovative techniques of playing the Santoor also facilitates in the playing of Krintans, Ekharatans and Boltans broadening the utility of the Santoor in various traditional forms of musical artistry.
Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya is recognized worldwide for his Ragdari, as well as Layakari (mathematical calculations). His improvisation on the shape and string arrangements of the Santoor produces music that touches the soul – be it of a connoisseur or that of the casual listener.
Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya has released over 150 CDs and Cassettes. He is the recipient of numerous felicitations like the 1997 pre Grammy nomination, excellence in world music USA, and his CD "Kirwani" has been acclaimed as the top 10 in the world. Pt. Bhattacharya received his talim (music instructions) from his father Pt. Rabi Bhattacharya, Pt. Dulal Roy and finally from the great Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar.
He is Rotary International’s Global Ambassador for Peace & Goodwill.
Paolo Soleri