About

Purbayan Chatterjee is among the foremost sitar maestros in the world, belonging to the illustrious Senia Maihar Gharana founded by Allauddin Khan. A recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including awards from the President of India, the Aditya Vikram Birla Award, and the Rotary International Award, Purbayan’s music is deeply inspired by the sound and style of Nikhil Banerjee. His artistry beautifully blends the tonal depth and richness of this tradition with a contemporary sensibility and refined urban aesthetic. Purbayan frequently collaborates with eminent artists such as Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, and renowned jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, further expanding the global reach and appeal of Indian classical music.

Artist Links: Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Spotify  | YouTube

Areas of Representation: North America, UK, Australia, New Zealand

Biography

Purbayan Chatterjee is among the foremost sitar maestros in the world, belonging to the illustrious Senia Maihar Gharana founded by Allauddin Khan. He received his early training from his father, Parthapratim Chatterjee, and went on to study under the legendary Ali Akbar Khan. He also underwent vocal training with Ajay Chakraborty and learned tabla from Anindo Chatterjee. 

A recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including awards from the President of India, the Aditya Vikram Birla Award, and the Rotary International Award, Purbayan’s music is deeply inspired by the sound and style of Nikhil Banerjee. His artistry beautifully blends the tonal depth and richness of this tradition with a contemporary sensibility and refined urban aesthetic. 

He is also the visionary behind Shastriya Syndicate, a groundbreaking project widely regarded as the first Indian classical band to present classical music with a modern, global appeal. His album Lehar, released by Times Music in 2008, was a major success and remained a bestseller for over a year. 

Purbayan frequently collaborates with eminent artists such as Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, and renowned jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, further expanding the global reach and appeal of Indian classical music.

Purbayan Chatterjee has an impressive discography of international releases, alongside numerous classical albums published by leading record labels across the world. His albums Leher and Stringstruck have received critical acclaim, earned awards, and featured prominently on music charts. 

During the pandemic, Purbayan, along with Aditya Srinivasan and Mahesh Raghvan, pioneered a groundbreaking achievement—the first-ever virtual live concert without latency, where all musicians performed in perfect sync with high-quality sound across diverse genres. This innovative milestone marked the first time a group of musicians in India successfully performed live and in sync virtually, overcoming latency challenges through technological ingenuity led by Aditya Srinivasan, with Mahesh Raghvan contributing via advanced iPad-based integration.

Classicool is a contemporary music collective curated and led by Purbayan Chatterjee, presenting Indian classical music in an innovative, global context. Since its launch in 2014, the project has blended traditional ragas with fusion, world music, and modern rhythm sections, engaging both classical purists and new audiences. The ensemble features Gino Banks, Anubrata Chatterjee, Rakesh Chaurasia, Sangeet Haldipur (keys), Ojas Adhiya (tabla), Nastya Saraswati (violin), Shikhar Naad Qureshi (percussion), and Megha Rawoot (sitar). Classicool has performed at renowned venues, including NMACC in Mumbai and in collaboration with B.C. Sen Jewellers in Kolkata. 

The collective has released a four-track EP, featuring compositions like Pace of Mind and Kalyani, seamlessly merging ragas with contemporary harmonies. Classicool is celebrated for expanding the reach of Indian classical music, inspiring the next generation of musicians, and realizing Purbayan Chatterjee’s vision of evolving tradition while keeping its heart and soul intact for global audiences.

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SAATH SAATH PROJECT WITH RAKESH CHAURASIA:

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