Singer Indrani Mukherjee on how thumri creates a visual poetry

Indrani Mukherjee explores the emotional and lyrical nuances of thumri

As a practitioner of Purab Ang Thumri, Hindustani vocalist Indrani Mukherjee has come to experience the most empowering aspect of womanhood — where a daughter, wife and a mother become fearless and expressive. “A woman becomes a communicator of emotions,” said Indrani ahead of her first solo performance in Mumbai. The concert presented by Pancham Nishad will be held on February 23 at NCPA’s experimental theatre. Born into a musical family, Indrani’s loves singing khayal as much as thumri. “I strive to delve into the depth of the lyrical content. While classical music is a ‘swar-pradhan’ gayaki showcasing the huge canvas of a raga, semi-classical music is a ‘shabda-pradhan’ gayaki showcasing the emotional nuances of words ,” she says.

At the age of three, Indrani’s musical journey began with the Kirana gharana style of singing, when she started training with her mother, aunt and maternal grandfather Sanjib Banerjee. When she was around 14 years old, Indrani’s grandfather casually asked her what is her aim in life. He gave her a few days to decide and let him know. After a great deal of thinking, she told him that she wanted to be a singer. Thereafter, in 1996, she became a scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata under the mentorship of Pt. Arun Bhaduri. Later introduced to the thumri, she received taleem for many years from vidushi Purnima Choudhury. In 2008, Indrani began learning from Pt Ramashraya Jha and vidushi Manju Sundaram. Through this path, she imbibed the essence of the Agra gharana style of singing.

Indrani feels that a raga does not need a particular style to reveal its roop (form). “Words are just as significant as melodic intricacies when portraying a raga. A bandish should not merely serve as a framework to showcase technical prowess — it has the power to shape and elevate a performance with beauty and depth.”

According to Indrani, thumri is one of the most expressive forms, wherein emotions, particularly of love and devotion, are conveyed through several extempore and aesthetic musical variations of the lyrics. “The art of thumri singing lies in expressing the meaning of the lyrics — their connotations and delicate nuances — through subtle hints and emotive suggestions.

Over the years, Indrani has performed at several well-known national and international events. She has also conducted workshops all over the world. In 2021, Indrani joined hands with Darbar Academy, the educational wing of the Darbar Festival in the UK, to reach out to a wide range of students. Serving as the head of the vocal music department at the academy, she curates online and offline courses. She is also part of an innovative music course that brings together children and their parents, encouraging them to learn music together. “It is my dream to pass on Purab Ang Thumri-Dadra to future generations, as it is an indivisible part of classical music,” she shares.

Further, Indrani is working on bhajans with a unique soundscape, incorporating various percussion instruments such as the shree khol, mridangam and the tabla. In March, she will be heading for her first Australian concert tour, performing in Sydney as well as at the Melbourne International Festival for Hindustani music. “I’m excited to meet new audiences and connect with aspiring musicians as I conduct a two-day vocal workshop in Melbourne,” says Indrani.