******  Bengali Version ******

He’s only 18, but Aneek Dhar is already a singing sensation / wonder boy, who was discovered at a popular talent show “Saregamapa”. At this age, he seems to be at par with the leading singers in the country, if not ahead. I wish him all the best. he’s simply spectacular!!

Exclusive Interview of Aneek Dhar, taken in Feb 2008.

Special thanks goes to Arko Adhya on behalf of all Maadhukari readers for his outstanding contribution behind the publication of this interview.

Page 1

Maadhukari: Tell me about your childhood. Where and how did you spend your childhood?

Aneek : I was born and brought up at Lake Gardens, Calcutta. We have a house there. Schooling,music,sports activities, friendship--all began there. My father is in medical profession. He is a psychologist and my mother is a housewife. We belong to a joint family. The family have all kinds of professionals like doctor, engineer, scientist etc. Since my childhood I have yearn for music. While my mother sang, I used to listen to her. In fact my mother started to train me with harmonium as I was growing up. It was somewhat a regular and formal training. At that time my family was facing some problems. Still I would like to say that I struggled a lot to establish myself as a singer. Truly speaking I started singing from childhood. To get training I used to meet many people. I learnt Rabindra Sangeet from Mr. Pramit Sen, the son of late Sagar Sen, an eminent singer of Rabindra Sangeet. In our locality Mr. Sudeep Roy, a disciple of late Manabendra Mukherjee( great singer of yesteryear) stays. He loves me very much and trained me with the songs of late Manabendra Mukherjee,Late Shyamal Mitra and Manna De(all great singers) Mr Sen trained me also in Mr.Manna De's Classical Songs. At present I am getting training from Mr.Jayanta Sarkar.From him I am learning classical music. When I get chance I meet Mr. Ajay Chakraborty to get a few tips. He also loves very much. I call him uncle. Just I wish to meet Ustad Rashid Khan for once.

Maadhukari: You've not meet him yet!

Aneek: It has not happened yet. i have met all the people I love except Ustad Rashid Khan. Anyway I attended different competitions. I was a student of NavaNalanda. The school used to organize Nalandasree Competition. I always joined that and I used to achieve the top position every year and got Nalandrasree Award. Besides these I used to participate in the competitions organized at Tollywood and TV Channels. I used to be among top three positions. Sometimes I got eliminated too. One such competition was presented by Zee Bangla and produced by Prime Music. It was named Zee Bangla Golden Voice. Mr. Mithun Chakraborty was a the anchor. There I could not proceed much. I was eliminated out of the top eight. My parents were hurt very much. Naturally grandparents also got hurt. But I was not upset at all and hoped and waited for better. Actually many incidents may happen in your life. Just one and a half month passed away and I saw the advertisement of Zee Bangla Sa-re-ga-ma-pa. This is a great event. You know among all the competitions its vastness surpasses others. Its name implies its creativity. The brand of the singers too is the reason for its vastness. At once I applied to join and gave audition. Competition started. You saw Debajitda was anchor and with the blessings of Almighty I was among top three competitors. And at last I became the champion. After that I was told, for Sa-re-ga-ma-pa you are directly promoted to "Vishvayudha" --(the name of the show as participants across the world joined it.) Still I remember the affection of Mr. Rajeeb Chatterjee,the Business Manager of Zee. He had told me I must win. I assured him that I would try my level best. It was a time of my life. I was called to Mumbai for the competition. In Calcutta I have to appear for My HS(+2) final examination. I requested my father to let me go to Mumbai.I promised him that I would be the champion and I would secure 60% in the examination. For, I did not hope to better than this in the examination which was very tough. But my father was a bit pessimist. He said that a small fry like me would be lost in the vast ocean. I again requested my father to allow me to go to Mumbai to take a chance and try. Besides these I knew that I was one year ahead age wise to appear for HS Final Examination. Taking everything into consideration I thought that if anything went wrong it could be adjusted. with a smile). You can say thus I made myself tension-free. Then I bought three two-way tickets for Calcutta-Mumbai flight. Thus I planned to appear for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics examination papers. Went to Mumbai and would return to Calcutta on the eve of the exam. day and I would fly back in the next afternoon. However I had to stay at Mumbai for two months. One day I was just taken to Brahmashastra (name of a round in the competition). But was greeted by Ismailji in a sarcastic way. He wondered how come I got chance in this Vishwayudha! Anyway, thank God, got a chance to sing. After that I progressed gradually to top four, then to top three. The Zee management took the decision to choose the champion among top three, not between top two. According to them we three: Amanat, Aneek and Raja are all good singers but of different style. With everybody's blessings I became....

Maadhukari: How are you doing in St.Xaviers' College? Are you still carrying on?

Aneek: I could not continue as I had a problem with my attendance. I could not attend a single class. Just attended a fest there.

Maadhukari: How do you get the inspiration to compete in the reality show? Hope it is from your family.

Aneek: You know the support from the family is most important. To establish and succeed the support of one's family is essential. I think myself zero without my family support. I belong to a joint family. In fact my uncle, parent and aunt all gave me the support. My uncle bought me a synthesizer and a sound system so that I can improve in Music. These kind of gesture from the family make you feel lucky.

Maadhukari:The inclusion of and Avijit Kosambee and you in the "Brhmashastra Round" raised a huge controversy. leave alone Mr.Darbar, even your mentor Himesh too questioned your inclusion. Feel you were afraid of not getting a chance.

Aneek: Look Mr.Ismail Darbar is a legend. It was my first entry and it was an awesome feeling to meet personalities like Himesh Reshmiya, Vishal-Shekhar, Bappida. I was afraid that there might be a possibility ,say one in hundred; not to get a chance to enter. I told my fellow competitor Adi to take care of me. He told me not to be tense and everything would be okay. At that time we were on the stage. At last Himeshji requested Ismailji to let me sing. I sang "in Dino.." and the journey started.

Maadhukari: Afterwards we observed that Himesh became a great fan of your songs. You too told him "I love You" ecstaticly. Is this the magic of your songs or the credit of the organizers?

Aneek: Fine you have raised the issue. I would like to tell you that not only I am the student of Himeshji but also I am a great fan of him. Still I remember 
an incident. I was in Golden Voice and I was not as famous as I am now. Then he came to Nicco Park to perform and we mean the Golden Voice were to perform there. We were ten. In the program the last big name was Himeshji. He would come early and leave after his performance. But I came to learn that Himeshji had come and found him in the green room. Still it made me laugh. I found Himeshji was moving here and there and two of his security guards were shadowing him with arms in their hands.