Sipra Bose passed away on the 22nd of this month.

I have been wanting to write something about this for a while but was away travelling. This thread should actually be in the Raag Rang section as she was so much more than a singer of bangla songs but I thought I would post it here since my impression is that she is not so well known outside of Bengal. I hope I am completely wrong.

Among contemporary artistes of her genre - and if I have to pick bangla raag prodhan gaan, she was peerless. She remains my family's favorite artiste - someone that to my mind never got due recognition or at least as much as she deserved. There is a brief profile at the end of this post and the only reason I included it is because I have always been awed by how she assimilated all the very diverse influences in her musical training to come up with something that was unique and her own.

I had the pleasure of attending her concert a couple of years back and it remains the best live peformance of ghazals, thumris, bangla raga prodhaan I have ever heard from any artiste - and I have heard all the big names. She was accompanied on the tabla by her equally illustrious husband, Shri Gobindo Bose. We also had a chance to spend about an hour with them before the programme and we will always be grateful for the opportunity.

One of the ghazals she sang that evening was "lagta nahi hai jee mera, ujade dayaar mein" by Bahadur Shah Zafar. The alaap (and the composition) was in Kirwani so I did not catch it at first but as soon as the lyrics were mentioned I groaned - this has been such a 'common' ghazal and I have a different tune carved deep in my psyche making it impossible to like any other tune - at least at the first hearing.

I was blown away by both the composition and her gayaki - I don't and can't know the ghazal in any other tune now. After the programme I mentioned this to her and her eyes lit up. I will never forget that moment.

Over the next little while I will upload a few raag prodhan songs by Sipra Bose.

Sipra Bose - you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.


Profile -

Sipra bose, an outstanding artist of rare quality is a celebrated figure in North Indian classical as well as in light classical music. Her career in music began in her early teens under the guidance of the Late Sangeetacharya Chinmoy Lahiri.

Sipra Bose has always upheld the traditional intricacies of khayal from the renowned Lucknow gharana - a rich musical heritage that has been handed down to her from her guru in a system known as the Guru Shishya Parampara.

Sipra specialized in learning Thumri and Ghazal under the inimitable peerless of Lucknow, the legendary Begum Akhtar from whom she developed Dadra and other light classical varieties as well. In addition, for rare traditional compositions like Chaiti, Kajri, Thumri, Dadra and Tappa, Sipra's talim continued under Naina Devi of the Benaras gharana.

For pure classical music, Sipra received training under the guidance of Pandit Ravi Shankar, a legendary figure in the world of Indian Classical as well as world music.

Sipra Bose's captivating voice with its' intricate delicacies, her controlled eloquence, the lyrical grace makes each performance not just memorable but truly magical. Her enunciation of Urdu, enriched by her spontaneous expression has put her in a niche amongst the most established Ghazal performers of today.

Gobindo Bose, her husband, the noted Tabla player, has always been a source of inspiration for her. Though they seldom perform together on stage, their mutual admiration for one another, the mastery of their art has proved to be an unique combination, especially during a live performance.

1. Rojoni phuralo je potho paaney chaahiya
mp3, 128 kbps, 9:37
Lyrics - Pabitra Mitra
Music - Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri

Click to view attachment


2. Bina kaaroney kichhu na boley
mp3, 128 kbps, 10:13
Lyrics - Shyamal Sengupta
Music - Gobindo Bose

Click to view attachment

Dear Sir,

Thanks for the trouble you have taken to tell us about Shipra Bose. The entire write up is illuminating indeed. How little do we know of artists from other states and lanuages...

Subhash G. Deo

Thanks a lot Shaibaal for your information and uploads. May her soul rest in peace. In this connection here I am uploading one of my favourite Bengali songs of Sipra Basu with two uncommon and rare songs..

Song - Moner Duar Khule Ke
Singer - Sipra Bose
Music - Robin Chatterjee
Lyricist - Pronab Roy
Duration - 3:11
Bitrate - 192 kbps

Click to view attachment


One Oriya film song with another eminent singer Shyamal Mitra...

Song - Sapana Bilase Tuma Milana
Singer - Sipra Bose & Shyamal Mitra
Film - Ghara Sansara
Music - Rakhal Mohanty
Lyricist - Brundaban Jena
Duration - 4:52
Bitrate - 192 kbps

Click to view attachment


Bluestar

One beautiful and rare thumri by Sipra Basu in Dadra..

Song - Aaj Hu Na Aye - Dadra
Singer - Sipra Bose
Duration - 8:36
Bitrate - 192 kbps


Click to view attachment

Bluestar

My God.. what a loss..
Only last year I came across three songs of sipra bose.. live classicals .. and it was a sweet shock to me.
(Blue star's upload is one among those)
I was surprised that I never came across her songs so long.. at least knowingly..

Off course she should not be mentioned as 'bengali voice' at all.. for she was a classical singer in north indian style but she was undoubtedly the most matured bengali female voice at present.

Fame comes late to some true talents.. at least that is what I thought about her.

And this news today.. it is a shock to me.

If anyone kindly upload any of her north indian classicals we will be real obliged. Her voice never came in the limelight much.. but well, hope time will only brighten her memory.

I stand by you shaibaal in sharing the sorrow.

And thanks blue-star for your rare contributions. I upload your song again in studio-Q.. only to reduce size, I choose a low-bitrate. Her voice may be more enjoyable in this flawless recording.. and it is probably from another live program.. almost double duration

Click to view attachment

May her soul rest in peace and her voice ring thru' time and age..

Amit

Very good upload Amit. Thanks a lot.-Sita.