Biography

 

Dr. Sudeep Rai honored by
"International Chamber of Media & Entertainment Industry" and "Asian Academy of Arts" during 2nd Global Literary Festival at Film City Noida

Sudeep Rai is one of the leading Instrumentalist of India a disciple of Sitar Maestro Padmabhushan Pt.Debu Chaudhuri, Sudeep has been acknowledged by connoisseurs as a worthy Successor to his Guru’s tradition. Sudeep’s style resonates with maturity that is far beyond his years. His skillful fingers handle rapidly moving passage with ease while maintaining the integrity and beauty of every note. The mark of a true virtuoso. His charming stage presence and charisma only enhance the overall performance Simplicity and clarity are the hallmark of Sudeep’s style. His sitar voice falls on the ears with the freshness of a thousand honey head in flowers. He has skillfully maintained mastery in rendering of ragas in its purest form. Sudeep has performed in various cities in India at prestigious places in Music Conferences organised by renowned organizations i.e. India Habitat world New Delhi , India International Center New Delhi Nehru Centre Mumbai,Pt. V.N.Bhatkhande smriti sangeet samaroh, Swarna jayanti Swarotsav Concerts organised by Madhya pradesh Lalit Kala Academy ,Sangeet Natak Academy "Let the music flow" ensemble of classical & sufi music held at India Habitat Centre where he performed a jugalbandi with famous sufi group "Sukoon","Triveni" a concert organised by Bharatshakti foundation held at India International Centre New Delhi "Paigaam" a concert to convey the message of love peace & integrity to mark United Nations International human rights day held at India international Centre New Delhi "Swaraanjali" held at India International Centre "Spandan" held at India International Centre New Delhi "Malhaar Mahotsav" "International Sufi Festival" & "Global Literary Festival Noida" are a few to name.

His recent performances at "Indian art and culture fiesta" at International Herbin Festival Honkong and "Rang-e-Khusrow" held at India Habitat Centre New Delhi has received exceptional acclaims by connoisseures of Indian music in India and abroad.Sudeep has been honored by "International Chamber of Media & Entertainment Industry" and "Asian Academy of Arts" during "Global Literary Festival" at Film City Noida.

Dr.Sudeep Rai awarded ISFI 2012
"Gold Award" at International
Sufi Festival

His performances were profusely praised by the known musicians and listeners of Hindustani Classical Music. Sudeep is not only an outstanding Sitar player of his tradition but also a brilliant scholar of Music. Sudeep represents the traditional Senia Style of playing Sitar with seventeen frets, the only Gharana in India.Among his many achievements and accolades, Sudeep is a graded artist of All India Radio New Delhi, Govt. of India from where to his credit several recodings have been broadcasted.Sudeep has composed music for an 'Opera' "Gomti"Directed by renowned Film Director Mr. Muzaffar Ali which was later featured at prestigious Lucknow festival.He has given live sound scapes for Renowned Theater Director RAM GOPAL BAJAJ'S play "ANDHAAYUG". Sudeep has Recorded a CD for the inflight music of AIR INDIA. Sudeep has appeared in the most popular talk show on Doordarshan National Channel "SUBAH SAVERE" and in exclusive talk shows in Radio Noida,Marwah TV,DD INDIA,94.3 My FM & Big FM channels.

He is the recipient of prestigious "USTAD MUSHTAQ ALI KHAN GOLD MEDAL".Sudeep Has been Honoured with "USTAD ZAHUR AHMED KHAN SAMMAN" at India Habitat Centre New Delhi,he has been awarded with prestigious "SARASWATI SAMMAN" at India international Centre New Delhi Recently he has been awarded with the prestigious MEMBERSHIP OF "INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION CLUB" at Film City Noida.Sudeep's book Jahan-e-Sitar is another dimension of his creativity. Sitar enthusiasts in India and abroad have found his book extremely useful in understanding of this art. his writings and research has been specially appreciated by the PRESIDENT OF INDIA A.P.J.ABDUL KALAM Sudeep's performances has received exceptional acclaim by the noted musicians, listeners & critics of Indian Classical music in the leading news papers & magazines i.e.The Times of India, The Hindu,Hindustan Times, Pioneer, jansatta ,The Millanium Post,The Sunday Standered, The Indian Express,MidDay Mumbai,India Today,Outlook &FirstCity.

 

The Sitar

 

Sitar is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music where it has been ubiquitous since the middle ages. It derives its resonance from sympathetic strings a long hollow neck and a gourd resonating chamber, used throughout the indian subcontinent the sitar became known in the western world in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Sitar's curved frets are movable, allowing fine tuning, and raised so that sympathetic strings or tarab strings can run underneath them. A sitar can have 19 or 20 strings, among them seven are main strings which run over the frets.

The instrument has two bridges the large bridge for the playing and drone strings and the small bridge for the sympathetic strings. Its timbre results from the way the strings interact with the wide, sloping bridge. As a string reverberates its length changes slightly as its edge touches the bridge, promoting the creation of overtones and giving the sound its distinctive tone. The maintenance of this specific tone by shaping the bridge is called jawari.

Materials used in construction include teak wood or tun wood (Cedrela tuna), which is a variation of mahogany,for the neck and faceplate (tabli),and gourd for the main resonating chamber. The instrument's bridges are made of deer horn, ebony, or very occasionally from camel bone. Synthetic material is now common as well.