Anindita Paul
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Anindita Paul is a gifted singer whose rise to fame coincided with the onset of the new millennium, and who has remained popular since. Acclaimed for her purity of tone, she has recorded songs in several Indian languages but is particularly popular in Assam. She is a National Award nominated vocalist who has sung well-liked songs for all the major music-directors of Assam for over a decade, and has also gained popularity though her various music albums.
Anindita Paul was born in Guwahati, Assam, the daughter of Amal Kanti Paul and Shyamali Paul. Her father was in the Contract and Vigilance departments of the Food Corporation of India while her mother was a homemaker who was musically inclined and had performed in college fests. As a child, Anindita imbibed her mother's love for music and would constantly be heard singing.
A few incidents in her life assume significance as they reiterated her faith in her musical gift and continued to propel her towards a musical career. When she was just four years old, she heard a singer crooning the famous Indian classical number 'Laaga chunri mein daag' at a jalsa organized by a family friend. Little Anindita was enthralled, and asked for an encore. The singer remarked on her extraordinary musical discernment and advised Anindita's mother to facilitate a musical education for her. Anindita feels she was born to be a singer.
Anindita started learning music at the age of 10, while she was still studying at the South Point School, Guwahati. When renowned violin maestro Dr. V Balaji from Banaras Hindu University visited Assam to conduct a 10-day workshop in violin and vocals, a function was organized in his honour. Anindita was asked to sing a bhajan and she overcame her nervousness about performing in front of such a prominent personality to sing a Ram bhajan. When Guruji came onstage he declared, 'I don't remember the name of this girl who just sang a Ram bhajan but she made me experience that I am in Lucknow, the hub of classical music! What more can I teach people who are already trained and sound so professional?' After the workshop, the maestro asked Anindita's father to permit her to accompany him to Benares where she could study music along with his own children. But her father opted for a well-rounded education for his daughter. Anindita has no regrets and she has always treasured this rare compliment. It also inculcated in her a desire to take music much more seriously than before.
Thereafter, she acquired a Visharad degree in Indian classical (Vocal) from an institution affiliated to the prestigious Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapith in Lucknow. She trained with Dwipen Roy in Guwahati and later visited Kolkata twice a year to learn from Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty.
Anindita began singing at stage shows in Assam. She was soon a graded artist in Bhajan and Modern song at AIR Guwahati. Though her father had been initially hesitant about encouraging her to pursue a musical career, he was soon won over by her dedication to her vocal riyaaz. He commented that Anindita touched people's soul with her singing.
At the turn of the millennium, Anindita's career also took a propitious turn. Her first Assamese album 'Bilot Tire Birai Podumor Pahi Oye' (2000) garnered tremendous applause from the music fraternity of Assam as well as aficionados among the general public. The lyrics were penned by renowned Assamese poet Shri Kamalananda Bhattacharya (Bawli Kobi) who also crafted the compositions. Anindita sang three songs, including the much-appreciated title track, for the album.
Anindita's musical career has flourished ever since in a variety of media. In the year 2010, she established her versatility by spanning different musical genres with her first solo album 'Tumar Prasangshat' whose title was given by one of the most significant modern poets of Assam, late Shri Hiren Bhattacharya. 'Tumar Prasangshat' was an album of mixed genres -- primarily modern Assamese song which had a tinge of ballet, R&B and pop-rock while keeping in mind indigenous sensibilities. 'Bokul Phulor dore' struck an instant chord with listeners and became widely popular.
One of the leading female playback singers in Assamese, Anindita has rendered songs for many feature films. After the attention corralled by her song 'Bilot tirebirai,' Anindita got offers to sing for many Assamese music-directors and this led to her cinematic breakthrough. Renowned Assamese composer Zubeen Garg asked her to sing his composition in the film Prem Aru Prem (2002) and this marked the start of a creatively rewarding association which continues till date.
Anindita is recognized for her felicity with soft romantic numbers as well as classical songs and has sung in many films for several music-directors. She remains popular and her upcoming films include Gaane Ki Aane and Songhat.
Anindita Paul was born in Guwahati, Assam, the daughter of Amal Kanti Paul and Shyamali Paul. Her father was in the Contract and Vigilance departments of the Food Corporation of India while her mother was a homemaker who was musically inclined and had performed in college fests. As a child, Anindita imbibed her mother's love for music and would constantly be heard singing.
A few incidents in her life assume significance as they reiterated her faith in her musical gift and continued to propel her towards a musical career. When she was just four years old, she heard a singer crooning the famous Indian classical number 'Laaga chunri mein daag' at a jalsa organized by a family friend. Little Anindita was enthralled, and asked for an encore. The singer remarked on her extraordinary musical discernment and advised Anindita's mother to facilitate a musical education for her. Anindita feels she was born to be a singer.
Anindita started learning music at the age of 10, while she was still studying at the South Point School, Guwahati. When renowned violin maestro Dr. V Balaji from Banaras Hindu University visited Assam to conduct a 10-day workshop in violin and vocals, a function was organized in his honour. Anindita was asked to sing a bhajan and she overcame her nervousness about performing in front of such a prominent personality to sing a Ram bhajan. When Guruji came onstage he declared, 'I don't remember the name of this girl who just sang a Ram bhajan but she made me experience that I am in Lucknow, the hub of classical music! What more can I teach people who are already trained and sound so professional?' After the workshop, the maestro asked Anindita's father to permit her to accompany him to Benares where she could study music along with his own children. But her father opted for a well-rounded education for his daughter. Anindita has no regrets and she has always treasured this rare compliment. It also inculcated in her a desire to take music much more seriously than before.
Thereafter, she acquired a Visharad degree in Indian classical (Vocal) from an institution affiliated to the prestigious Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapith in Lucknow. She trained with Dwipen Roy in Guwahati and later visited Kolkata twice a year to learn from Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty.
Anindita began singing at stage shows in Assam. She was soon a graded artist in Bhajan and Modern song at AIR Guwahati. Though her father had been initially hesitant about encouraging her to pursue a musical career, he was soon won over by her dedication to her vocal riyaaz. He commented that Anindita touched people's soul with her singing.
At the turn of the millennium, Anindita's career also took a propitious turn. Her first Assamese album 'Bilot Tire Birai Podumor Pahi Oye' (2000) garnered tremendous applause from the music fraternity of Assam as well as aficionados among the general public. The lyrics were penned by renowned Assamese poet Shri Kamalananda Bhattacharya (Bawli Kobi) who also crafted the compositions. Anindita sang three songs, including the much-appreciated title track, for the album.
Anindita's musical career has flourished ever since in a variety of media. In the year 2010, she established her versatility by spanning different musical genres with her first solo album 'Tumar Prasangshat' whose title was given by one of the most significant modern poets of Assam, late Shri Hiren Bhattacharya. 'Tumar Prasangshat' was an album of mixed genres -- primarily modern Assamese song which had a tinge of ballet, R&B and pop-rock while keeping in mind indigenous sensibilities. 'Bokul Phulor dore' struck an instant chord with listeners and became widely popular.
One of the leading female playback singers in Assamese, Anindita has rendered songs for many feature films. After the attention corralled by her song 'Bilot tirebirai,' Anindita got offers to sing for many Assamese music-directors and this led to her cinematic breakthrough. Renowned Assamese composer Zubeen Garg asked her to sing his composition in the film Prem Aru Prem (2002) and this marked the start of a creatively rewarding association which continues till date.
Anindita is recognized for her felicity with soft romantic numbers as well as classical songs and has sung in many films for several music-directors. She remains popular and her upcoming films include Gaane Ki Aane and Songhat.
