Nightingale of Odisha – Aparna Tripathy

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Well this quote is justified when people will witness the voice of nightingale of Odisha.
Aparna tripathy is one of the most popular and versatile Ghazal singer of the newer generation and has won recognition for her excellent singing quality. But this charming and multi-faceted performer is a true pathbreaker because of her courage to experiment with various forms of music. She is also very passionate about her singing career. She justified how talent and hard work can lead to a successful life. She is among those rare classical singers who understands the need to constantly adapt and use modern technology to nurture traditional arts and knowledge.

Aparna Tripathy had liking for music from childhood.She had got inspiration from her father & elder sister from childhood.when her elder sisters were learning music, Aparna listened & sang every songs properly.From that time she also started learning music odissi vocal by the same teacher Guru Shri Sanyashee parichha.She was selected as an approved child artist by AIR Cuttack on 26.06.1997.
In 1998 she was selected for getting scholarship conducted by C.C.R.T New Delhi,Govt of India.This scholarship was awarded for odissi music from 1998 to 2006.She passed Sangeet Visharad from Chandigarh University in 2003.During child hood she had attended in 1997 National Integration camp at ‘Gangtok’and awarded by ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika ‘.She selected as a child artist by S.I.E.T govt of odisha in 2000.She was also declared as ‘ Best child artist ‘ by AIR, Cuttack in 2001.
Secondly She was taught classical music in ‘Hindusthani classical ‘ under Guru Dr pandit shree Chita ranjan Pani & passed Sangeet Visharad from Mumbai University.She was also selected for Zee ‘saregamapa ‘& ‘Indian Idol’ by Sony t v in 2007.
She was selected by AIR Cuttack as an approved Artist in’B’ grade & later she got ‘B-High’ & selected as approved Artist of Doordarshan.She was selected as the first ghazal singer by AIR, Cuttack in April 2019.
As regards educational qualification She passed Post Graduation in ‘ English ‘ in 2008.She served as an Assistant teacher at D.A.V public school pokhariput from 2007 to 2013.She also served as music teacher at D.M school of Regional college.Later she went to abroad for singing ghazal.She awarded the certificate of honour as ‘ Ghazal Queen ‘in 2008 at Bhubaneswar state level compitition.

With the blessings of God,her parents & her Guru She always wanted to dedicate her life for music.

Question 1 What skills have you learned that will help you in your singing career?

Music or any kind of art form is God gifted which needs to be tuned with devotion and practice. Music was always there my blood as my father was and today also he sings beautifully along with my elder sisters, so a musical environment was all along there in the family. So, from my childhood I started learning *Odishi vocal* from Guru shree sanyasi Paricha. I learned all the traditional songs of Odiya like odisi, chhanda, champa, jaana, etc. Also started learning Hindustani Classical from Guru Pandit Chittaranjan Pani of Gwalior Gharana which sharpened my singing career w.r.t sur, tal and laya as all forms of musics are hidden in Classical music. Also became fan of old songs and ghazals. Also learned Urdu literature for singing ghazals and got great guidance from Shri Subash Panda. Apart from all the hard work, music needs dedication and application.

Question 2 What made you decide to pursue a career in singing?
From my childhood I was addicted to singing. To have a different outlook and enjoy the other aspects other than singing, I worked as a teacher for 7 years in DAV public school as english teacher.
But after some time, I could feel that I was fighting two ends and my passion was there in the music. Also I should do justice to my teaching as I have been handsomely paid there as well. Finally I listened to my soul which always yearned for music. Today I feel proud that I listened to my soul, enjoying singing and selected singing as my career after coming in contact with Sh Subash Pandey in 2000. Thereafter enjoying my passion from thereon.

Question 3 What has been the best performance in your career so far ?
Every performance has been devoted to the Almighty and every time I have come as a winner in my own self. Getting medals in have been very common but the satisfaction for performing as a messenger of Almighty gave me immense satisfaction.
Still some significant performances are as follows:
Singing Dil hum hum kare in front of bharat ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika as a 12year old child in Gangtok and got accolades from him.
Declared as “Ghazal Queen “ in a state level competition in 2008
Performed programs from 2 to 4 hours at a stretch in all the states of India , highest among them in UP for a stretch of 4 hours in front of State VVIPs.
Many scintillating performances in all projects of NTPC and MCL.

Question 4 What is the message you want to give to youth generation?
In todays dynamic world, the youth is fighting with all the tensions going in their mind. My message for the youth will be to go for “Passion”. Carrer may give you many type of opportunities but listen to your soul first. Then your heart amd mind should merge to frame the right decision.
For a career in singing, please learn classical music from a Guru.

Question 5 Passion and career which is important in someones’s life ?

When it comes to differentiation between passion and career, I have seen nthat passion is the most important aspect of all. I am being fortunate in that point of view that I selected passion as my career and I am being appreciated by people everywhere at all times.

Question 6 You are a multitalented artist, how do you manage to give your best in all of your endeavors ?
when we talk about multi talented, and you go by the history , we know Goddess ma durga , had 10 hands and was able to perform all the areas superbly with perfection and control. When the situation demanded to demonstrate truth over evil, she defeated mahasasur. As a woman , we have very important role to play in the society.
I always have envisioned Asha ji in this regard bcoz of her multi talented skills in singing different kind of songs and varieties. That has really given me the impetus to think like this and have gone extra miles to learn and understand the depth of music and enjoying sufi music too.

Question 7 Who is your inspiration in the music industry?
Well there has been many good artist in the industry, but I adore and Cherish Asha ji because of her versatile and dynamic singing in all forms of music.