Flute Creates A Feeling of Serenity

HE soothing notes of his flute weave a magical spell, gently sweeping away the burdens of a chaotic world.

- Nitika Krishna

All you need to do is close your eyes, surrender to the rhythm, and let the music heal your soul. It's no surprise that flute maestro Pandit Ronu Majumdar achieved the Guinness World Record for orchestrating the largest Hindustani Classical symphony with 546 musicians, followed by the prestigious Padma Shri.

The senior flautist, whose soulful tunes mesmerised audiences at Surmandal's Uttar Dakshin concert in the city, spoke to CE about his inspiring journey, his experience with fusion music, and more.

Excerpts

Can you tell us about how your musical journey started?

Well, I'm not from a musical family. In fact, my father was a homeopathic doctor and a great painter. I was born in Varanasi, a place where many great musicians were born, including Girija Devi and Pandit Kishan Maharaj. My father played flute as a hobby and was a disciple of the great Pannalal Ghosh, who introduced the flute — which was traditionally used in folk music — to Hindustani Classical music.