Bhawaiya

Bijon Kumar Roy

Call: 7384210273

Bijon Kumar Roy is a highly revered traditional Bhawaiya artist and son of the legendary Bhawaiya singer Biren Roy alias Kana Biren. Playing the Dotara (a traditional stringed music instrument) since he was barely seven, Bijon continued to pursue music with the utmost dedication even in the face of great economic hardships. His repertoire includes songs written by his father on the natural features and social dynamics of North Bengal. Bijon Kumar along with his wife Kaushalya are a popular duo of Bhawaiya music. For more details, click on the link mentioned below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dCve886HSI

Himadri Dewri

Call: 9434885357

A young and promising Bhawaiya singer from Tufangunj in Coochbehar, Himadri has performed all over West Bengal and several other states of India. He stood first in West Bengal’s state-level Bhawaiya competition thrice — in 1994, 1997 and 1999. Himadri is a regular radio and TV artist. He was invited to perform in the United States by The Bangladeshi Community of New York in 2007. Himadri has sung in music albums including Bhaber Bhawaiya and Bhabnadir Bhawaiya. For more details, click on the link mentioned below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkmBn66lJY8

Timir Baran Das

Call: 7477869953

Timir Baran Das of Topshikhata in Alipurduar has been singing Bhawaiya since childhood. He has learnt from his mother and later from Bidhan Chandra Ray. Apart from Bhawaiya, he sings Bhatiyali songs. He has stood second in Rajya Bhawaiya Sangeet Pratijogita in 2001 and 2015 and won the first prize in 2016. An exponent of Bhawaiya, Timir Baran Das teaches the traditional folk music to the young generation

Krishna Chandra Mohanta

Call: 8147729459

Krishna Chandra Mohanta of Alipurduar is a Bhawaiya exponent and teaches the traditional folk music to young generation.

Kumar Manabendra Narayan

Call: 9933376307

Kumar Manabendra Narayan is an acclaimed Guru of Bhawaiya, from Tufangunj, Cooch Behar and a descendant of the Cooch Behar royal family. He got attracted to Bhawaiya songs by listening to the same being sung in between his father’s productions of Pala Gaan. Manabendra Narayan’s initiation to Bhawaiya was at the age of 10, from his father Manindra Narayan. He has done numerous performances and has composed many Bhawaiya plays like Nithua Pathare Kajol Bhoromora, Ei Juger Daini, Sonar Songsar, Kokilar Kandon based on the life of the king of Rajmahal Lakkhin Narayan. He has been performing at the local Radio since 1972. Manabendra Narayan’s first record came out in 1980. He is a famous teacher and teaches Bhawaiya in 17 schools. Bhawaiya singer Nazrul Islam is also his student.

Tumpa Barman

Call: 9733007844

Tumpa Barman is a young and promising Bhawaiya singer. She grew up in a musical environment. Her grandfather used to sing songs of the Padma Puran (a religious text drawn upon the snake goddess Manasa), her mother and elder sister were Kirtan singers and that is where she draws her influence from. She was famous in North Bengal as a child artist. She met Sonatan Barman during a performance, the intimacy grew from the acquaintance and then they married. She trained under Sonaton after marriage and now Tumpa is a noted exponent of Bhawaiya music in North Bengal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbPHUp_mosw

Sunil Barman

Call: 8972927661

Sunil Barman of Coochbehar is a noted exponent of Bhawaiya music of recent times. Started learning music at the age of 7, his expertise lies in playing Dotara and Sarinda, string instruments related to Bhawaiya music. He was inspired by many local musicians but was groomed by the great Alauddin Sarkar. Sunil was awarded two times at the State Bhawaiya Festival. He can be regarded as one of the finest Bhawaiya composers of recent times. Sunil has a numerous music albums including ‘Maishal Bandhu’, ‘Sadher Nouka’, ‘Moner Asha’ etc. He is a famous Bhawaiya guru in North Bengal and teaches the traditional folk music to the young generation. Lastly it is important to mention that Sunil Barman feels himself very lucky as he got a golden opportunity to accompany with Pratima Pandey Barua, the world famous Bhawaiya songbird.

Pratima Das

Call: 6296963279

An experienced Bhawaiya singer of Coochbehar, Pratima Das has been learning music from her childhood. She was groomed by the popular duo and exponents of Bhawaiya Music, guru Kumar Manabendra Narayan Roy and Malati Roy. She bagged many awards in his early years and went on to stand second in Rajya Bhawaiya Competition in 1998 and 2005. Her mesmerized voice along with her dotara (string instrument) playing make her Bhawaiya songs more soothing to the listeners. In her childhood, she was a regular artist at All India Radio (Shishumahal).

Malay Kinnar

Call: 7679432440

Malay Kinnar is an expert Dhol player who started learning to play the instrument at the age of 20. Trained by Balaram Hazra, a veteran Dhol player and a recipient of the Banga Ratna Award of the Government of West Bengal, Malay was conferred the same award in 2016. He also had the honor of performing before the former President of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. A regular artist for All India Radio and television channel Doordarshan, Malay has performed at events across India, in Delhi, Mumbai, Karnataka, Goa and Assam. He has also performed in Bangladesh. Malay has also played for many Bhawaiya albums.

Nazrul Islam

Call: 7908744280

Najrul Islam is an accomplished Bhawaiya artist and composer as well. Singing from a very young age, he was trained under veterans like Subhash Chandra Das, Kumar Manabendra Narayan and Alauddin Sarkar. In 2001 and 2002, Najrul won the state-level Bhawaiya championship. Nazrul has many music albums including Bhaber Bhawaiya, Bhabnadir Bhawaiya and Moner Ayna and many of his songs are viral in social media. Najrul has performed across India including Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and has an immense contribution in safeguarding the heritage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMyn8cyDZmk

Mousumi Barman

Call: 9641742766

Mousumi Roy is a young rising Bhawaiya artist of Jalpaiguri and she has been learning music since her childhood. She has taken her musical lessons from several Bhawaiya gurus like Santosh Barman, Durga Roy, Dipti Roy etc. In the year 2015, she managed to secure her positions in various Bhawaiya music competitons organized in North Bengal, like first position in AbbasuddinMedhaProtijogita, second and first position in the Folk and Bhawaiyacategory respectively in Chhatra-Yuva Utsav. The multi-talented Mousumi Roy can play some musical instruments like Dotara and Sarinda, string instruments related to Bhawaiya music. In 2019 she became a graded Bhawaiya artist in All India Radio.

Suvash Barman

Call: 9800019118

Suvash Barman is in the world of Bhawaiya for over 30 years and his guru was late Dhaneswar Das. He went on to stand first in the Folk category of Chhatra-Yuva Utsav 2015-2016, organized by the West Bengal Government. Now he is engaged in teaching the authentic Bhawaiya music to the young generation. Suvash Barman along with his wife Jyotsna are a popular duo of Bhawaiya music and they perform regularly the traditional musical theatre of North Bengal by forming a group with their students.