Tarun Bhattacharya

Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya (born 23 December 1957) is among the most influential santoor players of his generation, recognized for reshaping the instrument’s role within Hindustani classical music. Although academically trained in commerce, his commitment to music led him to pursue rigorous training, beginning under his father and later studying with Dulal Roy. His artistic direction was decisively shaped during his advanced tutelage under Pandit Ravi Shankar, whose guidance helped deepen his understanding of raga development and improvisational form.

Bhattacharya is particularly known for technical innovations that transformed santoor performance. By inventing mankas for rapid and precise tuning and reworking string arrangements, he enabled the execution of intricate melodic patterns such as krintans, ekharatans, and boltans—phrases previously considered difficult on the instrument. These developments gave the santoor a richer tonal range and greater classical authority.

Alongside an active concert career in India and abroad, he has produced several acclaimed recordings and original ragas, contributing significantly to contemporary santoor repertoire. He has also been involved in cultural advocacy, using music to support social causes. Honored with major national and international awards, Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya continues to be regarded as a key figure in the evolution of the santoor as a refined classical concert instrument.