I’m from a family that’s deeply into music. My father belonged to the Bhatkhande gharana and was a lecturer in the Maris College of Music in Lucknow, while my mother was a disciple of Debabrata Biswas, an exponent of Rabindra Sangeet. However, my training in music was not like that of an average child. I felt very connected with music and it wasn’t something that I slaved over. My father would sing to me often and my training was very informal with him as my first guru. I later trained in Rabindra Sangeet under the tutelage of Maya Sen.

When I was three years old I performed at the All India Children’s Music Conference where the minimum age for participation was eight years. I surprised everyone by singing a Rabindra Sangeet — without any prior training.

I must admit that one turning point for me was watching the movie, The Sound of Music, which convinced me that I wanted to be like Julie Andrews. It was my dream to establish my own music group.

Another memorable event was winning a talent hunt competition organised by the Lion’s Club in 1985. The judges were famous personalities like V. Balsara, Girija Devi and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay.

However, when I was asked to go to Mumbai and sing, I chose Rabindra Sangeet and my studies at Rabindra Bharati over everything else. I did not go, but was honoured with the Laxmikant Pyarelal Award. That’s when I realised that Rabindra Sangeet took prime importance in my life. I am still focused on the study of Rabindra Sangeet.

I always experiment with Rabindra Sangeet as I believe it can express any emotion. I have also recorded all the 700 shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita in 2007. But the high-point of my life was recording the entire Gitabitan in 2006.

I am looking forward to the annual function of our music group, Ashokrenu, this month where we will perform Tagore’s dance drama, Chitrangada.

(As told to Amrita Mukherjee)