Farrukhabad Gharana

This style of playing tabla is a part of ‘Purab baaz’.The great Ustad Hazi Vilayat Ali Khan, who was the son in law of Ustad Bakshu Khan of Lucknow Gharana, is the founder of Farrukhabad Gharana.He used to live in a small town named Farrukhabad near Delhi, named after the then emperor Farrukhsiyar. And the Gharana took shape in later 18th century.

At the time of his marriage Hazi Sahab was gifted 12Kaydas and many ‘Gaats’ from Lucknow Gharana.According to the legacy, both the Farrukhabad and benaras styles are considered as ‘khalifa’ Gharanas being its mother origin and inspiration Lucknow Gharana.

According to Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa, Farrukhabad Baaz is the pure style of tabla playing, as no other ‘bols’ (syllable) from Nakada,taasha, khanjari,dhol are used here as mixture with tabla bols.
Composition wise,gaats are very special of this Gharana.viz-angadar gat,aakal gat, achanak gaat, astud,palladar gaat, palli gaats, manjhadar gaat, kayda-ang gaat,chakradar far,du dhari gaat, moredar gaat,farmaishi gaat, lapet-ang-gat etc.Tabla solo recital begins with ‘peskaar’,sometimes with ‘suruwat’ followed by ‘peshkar’,instead of ‘uthan’.

Characteristically the tone of tabla is subdued that means less open than that of Lucknow style. Usage of ‘sur’ , ‘syahi’ have been prioritised here more.The tone of tabla is much more intricate with absolute delicacy ,seamless sweetness and unparellel variety than any other style.
Ustad Munir Khan,influenced by Delhi style, introduced more usage of ‘kinar'(outer circle of tabla) in this style which added new essence.
‘Ghere nag’,’kere nag’,’dhatinney’,’tatinney’,’tignag’,
‘dhardha’ etc phrases are used more in farrukhabad style.

Use of both ‘Dayan’ and ‘bayan’ with proper balance,speed,clarity with melody and totality have uplifted this Gharana to the highest standard of refinement and popularity in the world of tabla.

Some of the legendary maestros of this gharana are, Ustad Masit Khan,Ustad Munir Khan, Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa, Ustad Amir Hussain, Ustad Karamatullah Khan, Pdt.Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Pdt.Kanai Dutta,Pdt.Nikhil Ghosh, Pdt.Shymal Bose, Pdt.Shankar Ghosh, Pdt.Sanjay Mukherjee, Pdt.Nayan Ghosh to name a few. At present living legend Pdt.Anindo Chatterjee is one of the most prominent torchbearers of this gharana.

Rupak was initiated into tabla at the tender age of four by his father Arun Bhattacharjee who is a able disciple of Pdt.Mrinal Kanti Bakshi.Rupak later came under the guidance of Mrinal ji who was also an able disciple of Guru Jnanprakash Ghosh.There after Rupak started extensive training under the guidance of pdt.Anindo Chatterjee.

Rupak is an able and rightful desendant of this lineage who owes the responsibility of taking it forward to the time ahead.