Watching his face as he plays, I know Banerjee is truly transcendental. He looks not extremely involved or engrossed in his playing, nor is he zoning out. He doesn't look as if he's acting or reacting. It just seems like everything in existence is in concordance with the notes being played. And when you listen with no video, the experience is the same. What he plays is so natural, I dearly wish I could have seen him play in person. Thanks for uploading.
@dantheartisan the origins have to do with the sadhus and yogis who take up a rug as one of their few posessions, all of the stories of levitation, mystical trances, and lots of other incredible things indeed make the myth of the magic carpet.
I will never forget stumbling upon a free noon concert in Schoenberg Hall in 1967, where this man played his magical sweet, liquid lines to a roomful of people whose main prior exposure to the sitar was most likely through the Beatles.
A whole new world opened up, a world very ancient and broad and beautiful. One of the best concerts of my life.
yea these days music in all genres has seen a decline; for many reasons; (globalization?); and the in indian classical music the loss of selflessness or atleast the idea of attaining it through music (as banerjee) seems like a joke these days. This topic would even make most uncomfortable. One stroke of Nikhil Banerjee's mizrab and you are flying for another plane...
So true. People are starting to lose their groove to music. Your point on globalization is well taken, however music has began a change, and it will never be 'as good as it was in the old days', but as long as you move with it, I think music will only get better.
There is nothing like batyali a dhun. The soul of Bangladeshi music. You can just imagine the rivers, the boats and the flat landscape. This is batyali for you. This is the music of the heart and cannot be taught.
Heard him for fifteen years; still do on recorded stuff. NEVER, EVER did he disappoint us. To quote a hard-core music-buff from his (and my) home-city: "Nikhil is either very, very good... or sublime." Yes, we miss you Nikhil-babu; you left too soon.
This gives me chills! Pandit Nikhil Banerjee's voice on his instrument radiates with such beauty of soul..just amazing! Truly one of the greatest musicians that has ever graced human existance! With Love
This gives me chills listening to his voice on his instrument. Nikhil's phrasing radiates such beauty of soul! Truly one of the greatest musicians that has ever graced human existance! With Love
Banerjee and Shahid Parvez are my two biggest heroes for sitar, I wish I could have met Banerjee. You can see in his eyes and his music that he really was a wise and compassionate guruji with true serene spirit.
Watching his face as he plays, I know Banerjee is truly transcendental. He looks not extremely involved or engrossed in his playing, nor is he zoning out. He doesn't look as if he's acting or reacting. It just seems like everything in existence is in concordance with the notes being played. And when you listen with no video, the experience is the same. What he plays is so natural, I dearly wish I could have seen him play in person. Thanks for uploading.
TheMaxr1987 7 months ago
Wow! The possibilities of three people sitting on a rug. Could this be the origins of the magic carpet idea? lol
dantheartisan 1 year ago 3
@dantheartisan the origins have to do with the sadhus and yogis who take up a rug as one of their few posessions, all of the stories of levitation, mystical trances, and lots of other incredible things indeed make the myth of the magic carpet.
bmarley343 1 year ago
the best
heavyatheart 1 year ago
The Master
anandvyasorg 1 year ago 2
I will never forget stumbling upon a free noon concert in Schoenberg Hall in 1967, where this man played his magical sweet, liquid lines to a roomful of people whose main prior exposure to the sitar was most likely through the Beatles.
A whole new world opened up, a world very ancient and broad and beautiful. One of the best concerts of my life.
alonzogarbanzo 2 years ago 10
@alonzogarbanzo SOunds fucking tight, i would like to be there in this moment in time.
skate4twente 2 years ago
Thank you bmarley343.
gautamsaraf 2 years ago
yea these days music in all genres has seen a decline; for many reasons; (globalization?); and the in indian classical music the loss of selflessness or atleast the idea of attaining it through music (as banerjee) seems like a joke these days. This topic would even make most uncomfortable. One stroke of Nikhil Banerjee's mizrab and you are flying for another plane...
Carter439 2 years ago 3
So true. People are starting to lose their groove to music. Your point on globalization is well taken, however music has began a change, and it will never be 'as good as it was in the old days', but as long as you move with it, I think music will only get better.
AliobotQ 2 years ago 3
ist the beat japhtal?
thelenious 3 years ago
noo.. its keherwa taal
TaalPanchamSawari 3 years ago
What is the raga?
pallab1234 4 years ago
mand
daz199md 3 years ago
His flowing melodic style is his signature that is unexcelled in the dhuns in sitar
He remains unbeated and at the top in the History of Sitar.
Instant Sweetness!!!
Keep it up.Post more please
shuddha of dadashri
dadashri dot org
VISHUDDHATMA 4 years ago 3
Does anyone have the old recordings of younger NIKHIL BABU playing. ?
would anyone oblige
vivsea65 2 years ago
No, it's also more well know as COPYRIGHT ;)
kaashee 4 years ago
This is just gorgeous
varunvr 4 years ago
His way of playing was so pure, sweet and soothing!
Sad that he left us so early and without any proper successor.
gautamdeusa 4 years ago
Ustad Nikhil Banerjee is almost like no other. Baba Ustad Allaudin would be proud of him.
Thank you for posting the video.
BanglaOcean 4 years ago
There is nothing like batyali a dhun. The soul of Bangladeshi music. You can just imagine the rivers, the boats and the flat landscape. This is batyali for you. This is the music of the heart and cannot be taught.
bansuriplayer 4 years ago
A god. That he passed early breaks my heart. His music moves truly touches me.
streaminMovies 5 years ago
He was one of the most skilled players...listen to some of his other recordings ( such as Morning Ragas->Bhairavi) and you'll agree
daz199md 5 years ago
Amazing!
lightninstrikes 5 years ago
he makes it look so easy - his playing is so fluif and effortless sounding.
bikehorn 5 years ago
Heard him for fifteen years; still do on recorded stuff. NEVER, EVER did he disappoint us. To quote a hard-core music-buff from his (and my) home-city: "Nikhil is either very, very good... or sublime." Yes, we miss you Nikhil-babu; you left too soon.
ahit60 5 years ago
What a music ? I hope the crappy sitarists who make round on this forum, should stop playing sitar for few years and just listen to this.
sitariya 5 years ago
do not nobody stop to play, this is an inspiration to all to keep on surely?
ooohmatron 4 years ago
This gives me chills! Pandit Nikhil Banerjee's voice on his instrument radiates with such beauty of soul..just amazing! Truly one of the greatest musicians that has ever graced human existance! With Love
BuckCurran 5 years ago
This gives me chills listening to his voice on his instrument. Nikhil's phrasing radiates such beauty of soul! Truly one of the greatest musicians that has ever graced human existance! With Love
BuckCurran 5 years ago
Bengali Raga sangeet kub misty dada
CA
clemalford 5 years ago
Hya, ta to botei.
avikd 4 years ago
Banerjee and Shahid Parvez are my two biggest heroes for sitar, I wish I could have met Banerjee. You can see in his eyes and his music that he really was a wise and compassionate guruji with true serene spirit.
subsic 5 years ago
Only Nikhil Banerjee. Only him. Nobody else can play like that. He had a soul that was 100% fucking PURE.
gurubhai 5 years ago 2
gosh , i have to agree
tintala 5 years ago
WOW, so pure and lyrical with beautiful raas. What if He had married Annapurna...sigh
Tariquya 5 years ago
So peacefull...Nikhil Banerjee has a very personal way of touching the strings. He's so clean !
valentin80 5 years ago
simply the most beautifull lilting music. Modern sitarists should take note!
Rajvirdee 5 years ago