Samta Prasad
Encyclopedia
Pandit Samta Prasad was an Indian classical music
ian and Tabla
player from the Benares gharana
. He also played tabla in many Hindi films including, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (1963) and Sholay
(1975), and film music composer Rahul Dev Burman
was one of his disciples
He was the son of Pandit Hari Sunder, also known as Bacha Mishra, his grandfather was Pt. Jagannath Mishra, and ancestors included Pt. Pratap Maharaj, and also known as Gudai Maharaj.
He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
in 1979 given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama and the Padma Bhushan
, the third highest civilian honour given by Govt. of India in 1991.
, Banaras (Varanasi
), Uttar Pradesh
into a family steeped in the tradition of Tabla
and Pakhawaj of Benaras gharana, sometimes referred as Poorab baaj school.
His preliminary taalim (training) started from his father, who died when Samta was seven. Thereafter, he took the discipleship of Pt. Bikku Maharaj, himself a disciple of Pt. Baldev Sahai and began to practise for long hours daily.
Sangeet Sammelan" in 1942, where he impressed the musicians present there, and soon established himself as an accompanist as well as a soloist.
Throughout his career he performed in various parts of India, like Kolkata
, Mumbai
, Chennai
, Lucknow
, etc., and also represented the Indian cultural team while abroad in places like France
, Russia
, etc., and particularly in Edinburgh
.
He also played the tabla
in Hindi films like, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje
, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen, Basant Bahar
, Asamapta and Sholay
. It is believed that music director, S.D. Burman postponement of the recording of song, "Nache mora manwa magan tikta dhighi dhighi" being sung by Mohd. Rafi in the film Meri Surat Teri Aakhen until the arrival of Pandit Samta Prasad from Banaras.
He died in May 1994 at Pune, India. He was on a visit to Pune to conduct a coaching workshop organized by Naad Roop. The workshop was a success, but Panditji's unexpected demise left a permanent scar on the minds of those who attended the workshop.
" in the year 1972, and received the "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
" in 1979 and the President Scholarship in 1987. He achieved the Padma Bhushan
in 1991.
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Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
ian and Tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
player from the Benares gharana
Benares gharana
Benares gharānā is one of the six most common styles of playing of the Indian tabla.-History:The Benares tabla gharana was developed a little over 200 years ago by Pandit Ram Sahai . Ram Sahai began studying the tabla with his father from the age of five. At the age of nine, he moved to Lucknow to...
. He also played tabla in many Hindi films including, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (1963) and Sholay
Sholay
Sholay is a 1975 Indian action-adventure film produced by G.P. Sippy and directed by his son Ramesh Sippy. It is considered among the greatest films in the history of Indian cinema. Released on 15 August 1975, it stars Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and...
(1975), and film music composer Rahul Dev Burman
Rahul Dev Burman
Rahul Dev Burman commonly known as R. D. Burman and nicknamed Pancham da or simply Pancham, was an influential Bollywood music composer. He was the only son of singer and Bollywood music composer Sachin Dev Burman and his wife Meera...
was one of his disciples
He was the son of Pandit Hari Sunder, also known as Bacha Mishra, his grandfather was Pt. Jagannath Mishra, and ancestors included Pt. Pratap Maharaj, and also known as Gudai Maharaj.
He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
in 1979 given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama and the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, the third highest civilian honour given by Govt. of India in 1991.
Early life and training
Pandit Samta Prasad was born on 20 July 1921, in Kabir chauraKabir Chaura
Kabir Chaura is a locality in Varanasi, India. It is known as the place where mystic poet and saint Kabir grew up. The word 'Chaura' is a distortion of 'Chauraha', literally meaning a four-way crossing...
, Banaras (Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
), Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
into a family steeped in the tradition of Tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
and Pakhawaj of Benaras gharana, sometimes referred as Poorab baaj school.
His preliminary taalim (training) started from his father, who died when Samta was seven. Thereafter, he took the discipleship of Pt. Bikku Maharaj, himself a disciple of Pt. Baldev Sahai and began to practise for long hours daily.
Career
His first major performance was at the "AllahabadAllahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
Sangeet Sammelan" in 1942, where he impressed the musicians present there, and soon established himself as an accompanist as well as a soloist.
Throughout his career he performed in various parts of India, like Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, etc., and also represented the Indian cultural team while abroad in places like France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, etc., and particularly in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
He also played the tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
in Hindi films like, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje is a 1955 Indian film directed by V. Shantaram. It stars Shantaram's wife Sandhya and dancer Gopi Krishna. One of the earlier Technicolor films made in India, the film won the 1956 Filmfare Best Movie Award.-Cast:...
, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen, Basant Bahar
Basant Bahar (film)
Basant Bahar is an Indian romantic and melodramatic film from 1956. The songs lyrics were written by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri.-Plot:...
, Asamapta and Sholay
Sholay
Sholay is a 1975 Indian action-adventure film produced by G.P. Sippy and directed by his son Ramesh Sippy. It is considered among the greatest films in the history of Indian cinema. Released on 15 August 1975, it stars Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and...
. It is believed that music director, S.D. Burman postponement of the recording of song, "Nache mora manwa magan tikta dhighi dhighi" being sung by Mohd. Rafi in the film Meri Surat Teri Aakhen until the arrival of Pandit Samta Prasad from Banaras.
He died in May 1994 at Pune, India. He was on a visit to Pune to conduct a coaching workshop organized by Naad Roop. The workshop was a success, but Panditji's unexpected demise left a permanent scar on the minds of those who attended the workshop.
Awards and recognitions
He was awarded "Padma ShriPadma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
" in the year 1972, and received the "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
" in 1979 and the President Scholarship in 1987. He achieved the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 1991.
Disciples
Amongst his noted disciples include, Shashanka Bakshi, Nitin Chatterjee, Naba Kumar Panda, Rahul Dev Burman (R.D.Burman), Gurmit Singh Virdee, Partha Sarathi Mukherjee, Satyanarayan Bashisht, and his son Pandit Kumar Lal Mishra, now a noted tabla player himself.External links
- Samta Prasad Profile at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
- Benares Tabla Gharana
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