Ritika
2 hours agoWriter: Marzia Jaffer
The game of luck is very strange. The one who supports you is the one who is lucky. He who does not give is also a drunkard. Today’s story is about the queen of vocals, Antara Nandi, who rose to fame at a very young age. And reached such a point where every person aspires to reach. Let’s know the story of Antara Nandi in her own words-
At an early age, the tone was understood
I am Antara Nandi from Assam. She shifted to Kolkata at the age of just 4 years. The reason for settling in Kolkata was my understanding of music at the age of two and a half years. Which my parents recognized and took such a big decision to give music education in a good place. At the age of 5, Padmashree started training in Hindustani Classical Music from Ustad Rashid Khan. Even today I am his student. Then I joined ITC Music Research Academy.
childhood was fun
I always maintained a balance between singing and studying. Participated in the reality show ‘Saregamapa Little Champs’ at the age of 9 and became famous after becoming one of the top 3 girl finalists. There was no goal in my mind at that time. I was not interested in going to competition, becoming a singer, all these things. Just had fun and gave audition. I gave my first audition at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata only because I would get to see celebrities there. I had no idea that I would qualify all the rounds one by one.
Before joining ‘Saregamapa Li’l Champs’, I was taking training in Pure Hindustani Classical Music.
Started with Pure Hindustani Classical Music
Before joining ‘Saregamapa Li’l Champs’, I was studying Pure Hindustani Classical Music. I didn’t know much about film songs. I could count only two film songs. All my auditions of the same ga-ga were cleared. After that I got a call from Mumbai. This show was special for me because after coming in it I realized that I can make music my career. I sang in front of Asha Bhosle and she gave me a standing ovation. It was amazing to sing in front of Kailash Kher, Kavita Krishnamurthy whom we grew up listening to and to receive applause. After coming back from the reality show, there was a lot of good grooming. After that I did a lot of live shows, which were part of my contract. My parents decided that I should go to school and complete my studies. He said that at this time it is more important to learn music and not perform on stage. After that I took a break from stage shows completely and started focusing on school and music classes.
first album in 2010
In 2010 I released my first album ‘E Jibon Nohoi Juna Bandhu’ (This life is not my friend) in Assamese. The album featured famous singers like Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Pulak Banerjee, Debojit Saha, Luna Bharali Das and Deb Jeet Choudhary. After this with Bollywood pop singer Raghav Chatterjee I released second album ‘Iso Mato Lakkhi Devi’ Bengali devotional album in Kolkata which reached top 4 in 3 weeks. Did live shows at international level. Jaa Ud Ja Re is a modern song released in August 2017. I wrote this song in school time.
some stories and adventures
When I was in 10th standard, my younger sister and I started posting some videos on social media. Both of us had fun and posted a video by playing some things lying in the house like cups, containers or aluminum ladders. We started having more fun when his views, likes and shares started coming in. After that we made 5-6 videos continuously. There was only one purpose behind making the video that we can take music from anywhere. It is not necessary that all the instruments should be there. Our videos went viral. The video was shared by Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Anoushka Shankar all. Media coverage started pouring in, from which we started getting value. We wondered what is happening in the game. I became Nandi Sisters from Antara. We were forced to stop making videos because the academy didn’t like these types of videos.
study and music
This was the period when I was studying both in science stream and attending music class. That time was very difficult for me. As soon as I passed the 12th board exam and shifted to Pune for further studies. Completed Graduation in Mass Communication from Symbiosis International University. In order to fulfill the dream, I started A.R. Rahman’s Musical Institute was associated with KM Sangeet Conservatory. While in this academy, I taught in Western Classical Music. Where I met AR Rahman for the first time. In 2019, he participated in AR Rahman’s YouTube Original Singing Reality Show ‘ARRIVED’.
Campaign through song on Delhi gang rape
Do-it-yourself with Assamese musician Jim Ankan Deka on a campaign against violence against women following the Delhi gang rape incident in 2012. With Assamese singer Rani Hazarika and pop singer Ritvika Bhattacharya released a music video against sexual violence. Where I raised my voice against child sexual abuse. The song was composed by Eastern Fair Music Foundation of Bangalore and the video was directed by Parmita Bora. The video won several awards at music and film festivals.
sang too many scratches
I have sung a lot of scratches with AR Rahman. Scratches Before any master song, scratches are sung by another singer. Which is different from the main song. I got this chance. Sometimes junior singer’s scratches are finalized and released and I am also one of those lucky artists.
a R. I taught Western Classical Music by joining KM Sangeet Conservatory, Musical Institute of Rahman.
My hard work earned my ‘award’
In 2013, I sang hit songs like ‘Police Babu’ and ‘Najnu’ for Hangul Theatre. Najnu won the Ramdhenu Viewers’ Choice Award in 2013. In the same year he lent his voice to the Assamese album ‘Zarodi Puva’ featuring the critically acclaimed semi classical composition of Dr. Vikram Borkotoki under the banner of Times Music, Mumbai. Recorded various themes and top songs for different Bangla TV serials broadcast on Star Anand, ETV Bangla and other channels. Apart from this, I sang songs for films in some local languages. My first item song was in the Assamese film ‘Khel-the-Game’. Recorded for Bengali film ‘Kichuta Somoy’ and hit Assamese song ‘Bindaas’ in 2017. My first music album ‘Ya Devi’ got award in ‘Best Music Video’ category at ‘Delhi Shorts International Film Festival-15’. Received ‘Star Wars Award 2012’ by Dream Catchers, Singapore and Young Achiever Award in 2014. Scholar in Center for Cultural Resources and Training- Government of India (CCRT) and also the youngest Bengali singer.
message
It was not in my bus to reach where I am today alone. The biggest contribution has been my mother’s. He attacked me all his life – leaving my job, social life, my hobbies, friend circle and running after me, so that my dreams could come true. When I did not know what a dream was, then mother saw my dream with her own eyes. He taught me to dream and make them come true. Papa also always stood by me like my silent supporter.
