Ustad Akhtar Sadmani

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1 A Legend
2 Early Age
3 Career
4 Death

[edit] A Legend

Ustad Akhtar Sadmani (2 January 1934 – 30 December 2003) was one of the greatest Bangladesh-based Hindustani Indian Classical Musicians of all time.

[edit] Early Age

Born in Dhaka on 2 January 1934, Ustad Akhtar Sadmani was brought up in Calcutta (Kolkata). It was his father (late Akbar Ali) who introduced music in his life. At the age of ten, he received the initial training from Prof. Bobby Daniel (who was a student of famous Ustad Zamir Uddin Khan). In 1955, Prof. Bobby Daniel took him to the renowned musician Ustad Omar Khan. Ustad Omar Khan was utterly impressed by his talent and took young Akhter as his son and continued teaching him.

In 1957, Ustad Omar Khan personally introduced talented Akhtar Sadmani to one of the legends of Indian Classical Music, Ustad Amir Khan (of Indore Gharana). Since then he received training and advice from Ustad Amir Khan as well. The result was overwhelming as his voice resembled that of Ustad Amir Khan and he could deliver the Sarod-skills of Ustad Omar Khan through his vocals.

Ustad Akhtar Sadmani also received training from Ustad Amanat Ali, Ustad Fateh Ali, Ustad Manjur Hossain Khan and Ustad Foyez Mohammad for Kheyal (or Khayal). Besides, he learnt Dhrupad from Ustad Zahir Uddin Dagar and Ustad Faiyaz Uddin Dagar.

[edit] Career

In 1961, Ustad Akhtar Sadmani returned home and joined Radio Bangladesh (Dhaka) a year later as an artist. He became a Music Director in Radio Bangladesh (Dhaka) in 1966.

He was always very keen to spread his knowledge of Indian Classical Music in his homeland Bangladesh. To create and establish a platform for classical musical practice and appreciation, he worked really hard. In 1980 he established “Sur Rang Academy of Classical Music” all by himself. The academy was the first of its kind in Bangladesh, solely devoted to Indian Classical Music.