Raghab Chatterjee is a great prospect for Bengali music. He not only enriched Bengali modern songs in Bengal’s own style but added something more. In an age of pop hype & fusion music, where classical music is an endangered species, Raghab Chatterjee is one of those budding singers, resplendent in the finest Indian classical training and the resultant control and rendition of notes from that wonderful instrument - his voice.

Raghab is from Naihati, 24 Parganas (North) and a good firend of mine. He is very modest with his skills and contribution to the bengali music and a pure person by heart. He continues to experiment with music, which will soon result into a Bandish Fusion album. His 2008 Puja Album is “Shrot”.

He was on the USA tour during September-October 2008. He performed in several cities in New Jersey, Maryland, Texas and California. During his show at Baltimore I was able to spend a day out with him and his soulful team members. We spent a quality time together. This feature was recorded during his stay at Baltimore. Please visit www.raghabchatterjee.com for more details (the page is currently under construction).

Raghab Chatterjee was in Baltimore, Maryland in October 2008. In this WashingtonBanglaRadio.com exclusive video he talks and sings about his latest album "Shrot".

Raghab Chatterjee - Shrot

Washington Bangla Radio, under license from Saregama, presents the songs from Raghab's album "Shrot":

"Opoya" from "Patalghar"

The famous song "Opoya" from the movie "Patalghar":

Tumi Neyi Bole

Chaand Keno Ashena Amar Ghore - Raghab Chatterjee

Tomar chokhe ami amar moron dekhechhi - Raghab Chatterjee

Raghab performing in Austin, Texas,at 2008 Durga Puja

According to Sanskriti of Washington DC:

Rising from a next-door boy from Naihati to the present stature of a nationally acclaimed singer, Raghab has seen a lot in his life. His musical career began as a kid when he started playing the guitar at a tender age of 10 only. His 1st guru being his mother, Smt. Shila Chatterjee, who herself is a fine classical singer as is his maternal uncles, Raghav has music in his blood. It was her mother who imbibed in him the love for music & evinced an interest to sing. In his own words, it was only music that could quiten him in his more mischievous days. & his everyday unfolded into a new memory infused with rhythms. Raghab next took classical training from Dr. Amiya Ranjan Banerjee in Bishnupur gharana & with a further 7- year stint at Sangeet Research Academy under guru pt. Ajoy Chakraborty where he was trained in Patiala gharana, Raghab thus has classical strain ubiquitous in his every music.

And surely it was not surprising, when he could easily walk away with the 1st prize in the Golden Talent Search Contest organized by HMV-FM in 1996 as also he was a proud recipient of the Sangeet Research Academy(ITC) scholarship. Soon he started experimenting with the music, which led him to sing for films, TV. serials & even ad jingles. Starting with Bengali films like "Mayar Badhan" & " Ei Tuku Bhalobasa" & regional TV. serials like "Kata Tarer Bera", Paanchtara", "Ek Chilte Roddur" and the various ad-songs in popular channels like E-TV , Alpha, Tara, & Akash Bangla, Raghab till date has given voices in national films like 'Devdas' starring king khan, 'Tere Naam', Coffi" & very recently "Raincoat' by Rituporno Ghosh. His Bengali films include 'Chokher Bali", Patal Ghar ( the 1st sci-fi film of tollywood), "Teen Ekke Teen", "Mohul Boner Sereng", "Eke Eke Teen", "Bandhan" & the list goes on. His mellifluous voice & long lasting appeal to the heart helped him to voice for ad jingles like Tata pipes, Pepsi, Shalimar, Tata Steel , National Insurance & Priya Biscuits & Spices.

And it was not long, when Raghab brought out his 1st Bengali solo cassette "Bhorer Alo"during the pujas. In this cassette the young man has put a lot of his musical skills where he doesn't sing only, but also composed tunes based on the poems of Purnendu Pattrea & Joy Goswami- a courageous venture unique in its own way. But the best part was surely his innovativeness & creativity which hinges on the tempestuous chords of life & helped him to release the 'Rishta", his 1st Hindi solo album from Cosmic Music. The classical gayaki being intrinsic in the music, the album made a huge success by creating bonds with the audiences, which were mainly a peppy mix of soft melodies & speaks about his union with humanity. However, the biggest break in his career came when he was asked to sing for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's multistarrer film "Devdas" which surely catapulted him into the big league. In the middle of his recording of 'Rishta' in the studio of Chennai, Raghab got this call 'out of the blue' when he was asked to appear for the audition, Thus the shy, submissive singer has successfully broken the Bengal jinx as far as the playback singing in Mumbai industry is concerned.

Thus in an age of pop hype & fusion music, where classical music is an endangered species, Raghab Chatterjee is one of those budding singers, resplendent in his own area, creating a niche with poignant images & classical overtones.