Kaushiki Chakraborty Debuts As Lyricist In Shantanu Moitra's Album Pankh
Indian classical singer Kaushiki Chakraborty never imagined that she would ever pen lyrics. But a haunting Kashmiri tale shook that assumption. It began when composer Shantanu Moitra told her a heart-wrenching story of a young couple whose son disappeared in the troubled state. He also gave her a melody with the narrative, which stuck in her head.
'Shantanu da informed me about a couple whose son had disappeared. He imparted to me a tune which lingered in my mind. The mother's point of view haunted me until it became a ballad. When I sang it personally and after that in concerts, the huge feedback encouraged me," she stated, as reported by Hindustan Times.
A Debut Shaped by Emotion and Discovery
The emotional experience prompted Kaushiki to write lyrics for the first time. She debuted with the album Pankh, composing two soul-moving songs — Baithi Hun and Tarana.
'Mujhe pata hi nahin tha ki mujhe likhna aata hai (I didn't even know that I could write)," Kaushiki said with modest amazement. 'This is the first time something I've written has been recorded professionally. I never thought that my modest writing could one day sit on the shelf with the compositions of our industry's acclaimed lyricists," she added
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Although she has been a composer before, writing lyrics felt like stepping into unfamiliar creative terrain. 'There was this mental block — 'I'm just a singer' — but I'm learning to explore other creative dimensions now," she admitted.
Redefining Classical Performance Format
In Pankh, Kaushiki has also transformed the conventional structure of classical performances. 'Apart from writing, I've redefined the format of a classical performance altogether. It's more of a mix of storytelling and singing — akin to an OTT story format, where I switch between storytelling and music to reach out to people," she mentioned.
This is not her first venture into creativity. She wrote all the songs for her album Karvaan in 2015. Pankh, however, is highly personal. The album that was four years in the making weaves together six autobiographical songs into one musical fabric.
'With all the singles around, I had strong reasons to record another album. The six life-story songs form a tapestry of stories — childhood, gurus, love, motherhood — all interwoven like strands. If my life ever had to be compacted into music, this album would be it," she stated.
Kaushiki is touring India these days with Pankh, performing in cities that are near and dear to her heart. She feels spiritually home in cities such as Varanasi and Lucknow. 'Travel plans seem divinely ordained. Varanasi's sacred energy and musical tradition permeate my family DNA. Likewise, Lucknow is personally sacred in my life and music and the manner in which its connoisseurs have accepted me," she asserted affectionately.
With Pankh, Kaushiki Chakraborty has flown into a new artistic world. From singer to composer to now lyricist, she keeps breaking into new realms — one emotional verse at a time.
First Published:
August 07, 2025, 18:07 IST
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