Ten News Exclusive Interview with Eminent Vocalist Sujit Kumar Ojha!

New Delhi :– Can something be done to flourish the Indian classical music industry, so that it can reach out and does not die out with time?

With this question. Ten News Caught with Traditional Vocalist, Sujit Kumar Ojha to search for the answer and to know about his journey as a Classical and Devotional Singer.

We all know there is music of the soul in the soil of Bihar and ‘Sujit Kumar Ojha’ is a true example of that. Born in 1977, Sujit naturally took to music at the age of eight. Since then he started appearing on stage in several performances of folk music. After being initiated into folk music by his first guru and grandfather Shri Bhagwan ji Ojha. He subsequently started learning classical music from Shri Om Prakash Rai, Shri Dharampal. Since last ten years, he has been under the tutelage of  renowned vocalist and Principal of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi Padmashri Pandit Madhup Mudgal. He is a bachelor of music from University of Delhi.

He has been featured in various programmes like Subah Savere on DD-I and others on DD-Bharati, ETV etc. Light & classical music (khayal, bhajan, ghazal etc.) being his forte, he is brilliant at both folk music and bhajan. Besides a good lyricist, Sujit has directed as well as composed music for many films and albums in Hindi, Bhojpuri and Punjabi etc. Sujit Ojha has also gained ‘ARYA RATNA’ award in the year 1999. BABA ALLAUDDIN KHAN AWARD in 2003 and ‘SANGEET SADHAK’ SAMMAN in 2011.

Besides an active member of the famous Gandharva Choir from ĺast seventeen years. He has traveled and performed many programmes widely across India & abroad like Boston, Houston, Washington, Manchester, London, Barmingham, Liverpool, Dubai, Germany, etc and has won applause from connoisseurs and critics alike. He has been the grand jury member for the Mirchi Music Awards of Radio Mirchi 98.3 Fm judging the Classical based/Raag based filmi songs category for the last 8 years.

As a music director he has also worked with singers of great caliber from the music industry like Sadhna Sargam, Jaspinder Narula, Sawani Mudgal to name a few. And from the last 12 years he has been performing regularly in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha.

Equally adept at playing tabla and harmonium, he is a faculty member of Hindustani music (vocal) section at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi from the last 17years. Also he has been the Memeber Governing Body, Delhi University from the year 2016.

Speaking to Ten News in a Exclusive Interview, Sujit Unfold many aspects of his Background, Music and Future of Classical Music in India.

Talking about his journey he said, “From childhood there was a environment of music at my home. My Grandfather and Father use to sing very well so from childhood i use to listen traditional music. I got my inspiration from them only.”

“From 90’s i started singing classical music. That time i use to stay in Buxar, Bihar. My first Guru Shree Om Prakash Rai taught me the art of music. Then i moved to Delhi,” said Sujit.

When asked, when he started teaching at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Kumar said,

“I was a student of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. My Guru padamshree Pandit Madhup Mudhgal taught me here and after learning the art of music from him, he only told me to teach students  From year 2000 i have been teaching students here.”

Talking about the difference in teaching from then and now, he said, “Yes there is a huge difference. Previous Teacher and student had a very simple way of learning and teaching. There was no tradition of writing notes or anything. Now we have to teach students in writing also for their satisfaction.”

Taking about his Role Model and Inspiration , Sujit said, “I was in class 5th or 6th i use to listen Kumar gandharv, Bhimsen Joshi work on radio. I got huge inspiration by them.”

When asked about what can be done to flourish the Indian classical music industry, Sujit said, “According to all the institutes which are promoting classical music, No doubt they are calling big artists. But they should also hunt for new talent and give them a new platform. If anyone is doing hardwork for 8-9 years for classical music. He should be rewarded.”

Watch Full Interview: