Singing is one of the best way to relax yourself. It is one thing that actually rejuvenates your senses and leaves you with a feeling of content. Many people take up singing as a fad while some take it up because they want to develop another skill. However, there are still some people for whom singing is not just the passion but their life. In fact, it might seem to be a hyperbole if said that Sanpada resident Kakoli Mukherjee is one of such singers who sings even while she thinks.
Kakoli Mukherjee belongs to a family of singers and started taking lessons when she was just three. Her mother was her first guru, and she taught her to love and respect music right from the very beginning. When Kakoli completed her primary education, she was enrolled under Bimal Ghosh, a profound singer who specialises in Indian classical music and Nazrul geeti. 'I developed my skills in singing Indian classical, Nazrul sangeet, Dadra, Thumri and belonged to the Kirana Gharana. I was extremely passionate about the classical music and he indeed increased my affinity towards it with time,' explains Kakoli. Uday Majumdar was her third guru and Kakoli owes a great deal of her success to him. A gold medalist in classical singing, Kakoli makes sure that she indulges herself into at least four-hour 'riyaaz' every day.
While she learnt from Uday Majumdar, she matured in a lot of other forms of music and earned her Sangeet Ratna (MA in Classical Music) as well as stood first in her fifth year Nazrul geeti examinations. Kakoli mentions, 'I have learnt Adhunik (modern) and many other forms of music from my guru Uday Majumdar (Patiyala Gharana). He has been a vital inspiration in my life and has taught me some valuable lessons in music as well as life.' Kakoli came to Mumbai in the year 2003 post her wedding. It has not been a smooth journey for her since coming to an unknown city and trying to establish yourself needs a lot of courage and perseverance. 'If not for Anirban, my husband and my mother-in-law, I wouldn't have ever been able to see these good days in my life. He has been ever helpful and supportive of all my ideas and endeavours. I had to start from scratch. He was by my side for every step that I took to establish myself. My mother-in-law herself is a brilliant Shyama sangeet singer and she is also a singing enthusiast,' she adds.
Today, Kakoli holds an affiliation to the Prachin Kala Kendra, Chandigarh under which her students can appear for examinations and earn certificates in singing. Kakoli Mukherjee started with just five students and today she has more than 30 pupils. She teaches every form of music, Adhunik, Bhajans, Nazrul geeti and of course Indian classical music. She is highly appreciated for her singing skills and has proved to be a great teacher as many of her students had won great accolades at many competitions and concerts in and around Navi Mumbai. Her speciality is the vast age group of students she teaches. She has students right from 4 to 40 who are not only from Navi Mumbai, but also Mumbai.
Talking about her future plans, she says, 'I wish to come up with an institution at par with the Gandharva in Vashi and teach every form of music to students of all age groups. Music is my passion and the only goal of my life; hence I wish all my students to learn music with the same feelings in mind. It is my utmost endeavour to teach them everything that I have learnt all through my career and bring out the best in them always.'