RONU MAJUMDAR

Pandit Ronu Majumdar, India’s Ace flautist, needs no introduction to music lovers all over the globe. By virtue of his phenomenal talent he and the Bansuri are literally synonymous. Ranendranath Majumdar, who is popularly known as Ronu Majumdar, began playing the flute under the guidance of his father Dr. Bhanu Majumdar, Late Pt. Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale and finally under the revered Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao. His versatility with the artistic medium is an inspiration to his numerous followers. A powerhouse performer, Ronu Majumdar is solidly rooted in the Maihar gharana, which has thrown up musicians of the eminence of Pt. Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

The flute (Bansuri) is considered to be the most ancient and natural musical instrument. The idea of fashioning this instrument occurred while listening to the sweet notes generated by the blowing of wind through the holes carved on the bamboo sticks by pests & insects. For centuries together, the flute was the principal pastoral instrument. It was left to the genius of late Pandit Pannalal Ghosh to elevate it to the status of a concert instrument.

Ronuji’s incredible range of achievements includes innumerable performances in the world’s most prestigious venues such as The Kremlin, Moscow; The Palais de Beaux Arts, Brussels and so on. Besides this, is the fact that he has also been a major innovator with the medium of New-age Music. With several hit albums which he has appeared on as a composer, among which are A Traveller’s Tale, Koi Akela Kahan and the musical track for the Hollywood film ‘Primary Colours’, Ronuji has created an enviable niche for himself in the field of contemporary popular music which is exemplified by his Grammy Nomination in 1996. His name has been musically associated with international Greats such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, ex-Beatle George Harrison, ace guitarist Ry Cooder and several other legends.

It was a land-marking occasion for him to play in New Zealand’s town hall situated in Auckland, as he had honour of being the first flautist to give a concert there. He was also part of Pandit Ravi Shankarji’s project "Chants of India".

Ronuji’s yearly performance schedule includes venues all over the world, which are so diverse that one cannot help but wonder at the man’s range of expression which enables him to musically mesmerise people across all barriers of age, boundaries and communication.

website: http://www.ronumajumdar.com/