Sudarshan Das performs in Chattogram

Two-time Guinness World Record holding percussionist Pandit Sudarshan Das amazed the audiences at a solo tabla performance held in the port city on Friday evening.

The virtuoso percussionist showcased his charisma by the strokes of his fingers on the tabla at the opening ceremony of 'Tabla and Dhol Academy Chattagram Bangladesh' at Chatteshwari Kali Bari premises.

The programme was arranged as the inauguration of the 5th branch of the institution, which is already providing lessons to the students across in the USA, Canada, Australia and India with the head office in the UK.

The performance began with the playing of teentaal, which followed the transition to jhaptaal and Rupak taal.

The maestro mimicked different sounds from our surroundings and daily life including the sound of thunder, train, vehicles on the street and even traffic congestion. He used five tablas tuned differently for creating the ambience.

Sudarshan Das had set two Guinness records -- of playing tabla for the longest time of 557 hours 11 minutes in 2016, and 27 hours playing on Dhol in 2017. He however, is planning on breaking his own record this year.

Das has been playing tabla for more than 30 years, and began his journey at Alauddin Lalitakala Academy at Chattogram under the supervision of Pandit Shyamol Dutta. He later achieved a diploma from Santiniketan in India.

After completing his training, the artiste delved into teaching the art to young learners. He has been teaching tabla and dhol at London from 2004.

“Working with young souls is always an inspiration. They make you face challenge all the time and you cannot get bored for a moment,” said Sudarshan, about his passion for teaching.