Madhusudan Burman & Gopal Burman

For the Barman Brothers, Madhusudan and Gopal, inspiration came early at the age of four, from their father, Late Barendra Mohan Barman, who established their foundations as percussionists on the tabla and sreekhol. The boys displayed amazing dexterity and could hold the audience spellbound even at that young age. Gopal Barman, the younger of the two, went on to specialize in the intricacies of the Sreekhol from Prof. Sanatan Saha of Rabindra Bharati University , Calcutta . It was finally the experienced guidance of Pandit Shankar Ghosh, the tabla maestro of international repute that gave the Barman Brothers the confidence to perform on the world stage. There has been no looking back ever since.

The music produced by the Barman Brothers is a novel jugalbandi of the popular tabla played by Madhusudan and the Sreekhol mastered by Gopal. The lesser known sreekhol is used primarily in devotional songs. The two brothers recognized the beauty of the combined sounds and created a series of novel blends. As pioneers of this dramatic new sound, the dynamic young duo has not only been able to take Indian classical music to a new dimension, they have also been able to reach out to a much larger audience, far beyond the Classical milieu. The new combination has already left a powerful yet refreshingly different impact on music lovers, both in India and abroad.

Madhu, went on to receive the prestigious National Scholarship in 1986-88 from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, for his remarkable maestry of the tabla. Both Madhu and Gopal were bestowed the honourary title of Sangeet Visharad’ by the Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh . The brothers have also mastered the art of other percussion instruments like the Dholak as well as the Spanish Guitar, Harmonium, Keyboards etc. The young Barman Brothers have received welcome support as accompanists to renowned classical artists of India . Their prolonged association with AIR and TV has also given them an opportunity to prove their mettle as rhythm artists in non classical items also.

Sandip Ghosh- Tabla

Born in 1982 Sandip Ghosh is a talented young tabla player who was initiated by his parents into music at the age of six. His initial tabla lessons were under the tutelage of Pandit Gobindo Bose which continued for nine years. His subsequent training took place under tabla wizard, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, who continues to be his guru. Specialising in the Farukhabad gharana, Sandip is adept at solo recitals and is also a reliable accompanist for Hindustani classical instrumental, vocal and dance.

Sandip is a 1st class Honours graduate and a 1st class 1st Masters in Music from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. He is a graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. He is a “National Scholar” and has been twice awarded the gold medal at the “South Asian Music Festival”. He has performed all over the world and has accompanied several great artists. He has also had the opportunity to perform duets with his guru.

Sarwar Hussain - Sarangi

Sarwar Hussain is one of the most accomplished and promising musicians of the younger generation of Sarangi exponents in India. He was born on 5th October 1981, at Gohad district near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh his musical heritage comes from a long line of distinguished Sarangi exponents from Gohad.

His ancestry can be traced back six generations to Ustad Fazal Khan, father of Ustad Ghansi Khan, famous for his mastery of the intricate Tappa Style. Ustad Ghansi Khan taught his sons who included Ustad Chhuttu Khan, Ustad Garru Khan and Ustad Uday Khan, who were the father and paternal uncles and gurus of Padmashree Ustad Abdul Latif Khan, Sarwar’s eminent grandfather and guru.

Sarwar’s father, Anwar Hussain is also a well-known musician. Sarwar began learning Sarangi from his grandfather when he was nine. The superb ‘taleem’ that he received for eleven years is clearly reflected in his playing style. His playing embodies the intricate delicacy of his grandfather’s style as well as the techniques which his grandfather learned from one of the most famous Sarangi exponents of the first half of the last century, Ustad Bade Ghulam Sabir Khan Ambala Wale.

An A grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Sarwar has received many awards for his outstanding performance.