My childhood

The smell of books, papers, articles, and essays were the aroma of my ecosystem. An in this world, I was the quiet listener, silent observer. I am still the same. I watch, I listen, I learn. People are like open books to me. My brother is four years older and he always played the role of brother, friend, advisor and guide. Most of the time! One morning at breakfast, he said to me with a sombre face, one that a precocious six year old would trust, that a bridge was being built between earth and Mars and I would soon be able to travel on it.

Bubbling with curiosity I asked my father about it, and he laughed, and said, "If your brother said it, must be true!"

As we grew up, we turned into great friends. Far wiser than his age, he always gave me good advice.

Gulab Jamun and Rahu fish head! Oh these are a few of my favourite things! While I know as I Bengali I should be loving my Rasgulla, I loved gulab jamun as well! And my grandfather, who was a doctor in North Kolkata, knew this, and he would cook it whenever I visited him.

I had many friends near my grandfather's house and I used to play with them. In the evening, when I came back from school, I was allowed to go at 4.30 p.m. to play with my friends but by 4 p.m. I would to get restless and change the time. My mother often complained that the clock kept gaining time!

Every weekend when I came back from my music class, I had to sit down with my father and sing songs for him. He was a good singer, but we usually ended up quarrelling, with me declaring that he knew nothing. He was an artistic man, who used to direct the water ballet in Kolkata in the prestigious Indian Life Saving society.

I was a sensitive child so everyone had to deal with me delicately. I needed lot of care. My maid Laxmidi played a very important role in my life too. She was appointed on the day when I was born and always protected me and loved me like a mother. On my return from school, I would sit on her lap and talk to her about my day at school.

My mother and I share a very interesting relationship. Sometimes she is my best friend and sometimes my greatest enemy. But over the years, we both have learned to grow up together as a mother and a daughter, and I see her as a friend with whom I can share a lot of my life, thus making me into a complete individual.

My life, changed when my brother decided to leave for the US for higher studies. I was used to his presence in the house and I feared that I would be lonely without him. I got married at that time as I wanted a companion. I wanted someone to share with, someone to grow.

Against this background, I would like to share an interesting story. One day a young guy chanced upon to meet me and heard me singing. That made him fall in love with me and in the course of time he married me and became my husband. He encouraged me constantly to learn more about music, and bring about a creative change in my world.
His love for academics encouraged me to do my MA in Ancient History too. My son Rik plays the role of a friend, more than a son.

Kavita Krishnamurthy, received her first Filmfare award, and there I was sitting in front of the television, watching this moment, that the old fold, gave way to the new blood. I felt a stirring in me, and inspiration, to take my talent, to a different level. To enter the music industry.

I started learning from Pandit Jasraj's disciple Neeraj Parekh in Ahmedabad and in Mumbai, I learned Classical music, mainly for voice training, from Dr. Prabha Atre.