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{{Short description|Indian musician (1938–1999)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sunil Ganguly
| image = 54654464666664SG.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Sunil Ganguly
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1938|01
|01}}
| birth_place = [[Sonamura]],[[Tripura (princely state)| Tripura State]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1999|06|12|1938|01|01|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = Steel Guitarist
| awards = Asian Paints Shiromani award for contribution to music
| known_for = Indian Instrumental Music
| children = [[Kaushik Ganguly]]
| relatives = [[Churni Ganguly]] (daughter-in-law)<br/>[[Ujaan Ganguly]] (grandson)
}}

'''Sunil Ganguly''' ({{langx|bn|সুনীল গাঙ্গুলি}}; 1 January 1938 – 12 June 1999) was an [[Indian people|Indian]] instrumentalist from [[Kolkata]]. He popularized the [[Lap steel guitar|Hawaiian electric guitar]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Bechtel |first=Brad |date= |title=Indian Steel Guitar |url=https://people.well.com/user/wellvis/indian.html |access-date=20 April 2017 |work=Brad's Page of Steel |publisher=Well.com}}</ref> in India. He made several albums with [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]] (now [[Saregama]]), [[Concord Records|Concorde Records]], and [[Sagarika]], with instrumental renditions of [[Hindi film music]], classical songs,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Alexander|first=Deepa|date=2020-06-02|title=Writer Shreya Sen-Handley becomes first Indian woman to pen an international opera|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/writer-shreya-sen-handley-becomes-first-indian-woman-to-pen-an-international-opera/article31731383.ece|access-date=2021-03-10|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali film]] songs, modern songs, [[Nazrul Geeti]], [[Rabindra Sangeet]], and [[ghazal]]s by composers like [[Mehdi Hassan]], [[Ghulam Ali (singer)|Ghulam Ali]], [[Jagjit Singh]], and [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan|Bade Ghulam Ali]],.

Ganguly gave many public performances all over India, including in [[Kolkata]], [[Mumbai]], [[Delhi]], [[Lucknow]], [[Patna]], [[Guwahati]], and [[Agartala]]. He did one-man all-night shows in [[Mumbai]] and played in college festivals at the [[Indian Institutes of Technology]] and [[National Institutes of Technology (India)|National Institutes of Technology]]. Musicians such as Y. S. Mulki, [[Dilip Dholakia|Dilip Roy]], Samir Khasnabis, Swapan Sen, and [[Manohari Singh]] have accompanied him in recordings and performances. Ganguly was a regular performer on [[Doordarshan]] programs in [[Kolkata]] and [[Mumbai]], as well as on [[All India Radio]] and [[Radio Ceylon]].

== Early life and career ==
Ganguly was born in [[Sonamura]], [[Tripura]] on 1 January 1938.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jun14/nation.htm
|title=Guitarist Ganguli dead
|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]
|date=14 June 1999
|access-date=1 April 2007
}}</ref> He moved with his parents to Kolkata as a child.

He won the All India Youth Guitar competition,<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=Sunil Ganguly - More Hits - Instrumental - Electric Guitar |date= |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5580953-Sunil-Ganguly-More-Hits-Instrumental-Electric-Guitar |work=Discogs |access-date=2023-11-25 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan|Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]] then recommended Ganguly to All India Radio in a letter.

He trained in [[Classical music|Western music]] under Oscar Jones, a teacher in [[Kolkata]].

He later trained under the [[sitar]]ist Ajoy Sinha Roy,<ref>{{cite web |title=Treasures from the Past |url=http://www.itcsra.org/TreasurePast.aspx?TreasuresId=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212172430/https://www.itcsra.org/TreasurePast.aspx?TreasuresId=4 |archive-date=12 February 2017 |website=ITC Sangeet Research Academy}}</ref> who was a student of [[Allauddin Khan|Baba Alauddin Khan]]. Ganguly had a profound knowledge of [[Hindustani classical music|North Indian classical music]]. He developed a style of playing classical raga-based [[dhun]]s and [[Bandish|gats]] on the [[Lap steel guitar|Hawaiian guitar]]. He started the "gayaki" style of playing which was nonexistent at the time, and this led to the huge popularity of the instrumentals he rendered on the Hawaiian guitar, including film songs, [[ghazal]]s, [[Rabindranath Tagore|Tagore songs]], [[Nazrul Geeti|Nazrul songs]], and other popular songs. He played a wide variety of songs in his career, including Hindi film songs, songs of Lata Mangeshkar, ghazals, by [[Jagjit Singh]], [[Mehdi Hassan]], and Ghulam Ali, Bengali film songs, Tagore songs, Nazrul Geeti, Bengali songs by Satinath Mukhopadhyay, Shyamal Mitra, and Hemanta Mukherjee, and [[Bihu]] songs in the [[Assamese language]].

His recording career spanned more than 40 years from 1957, when he made his first album with His Master's Voice. The Bengali singer and composer Satinath Mukhopadhyay played a major role in introducing Sunil Ganguly to His Master's Voice. Ganguly's records include 'Ghazal chedi usne' - an album of instrumentals of ghazals by prominent singers such as [[Mehdi Hassan]], [[Jagjit Singh]], and [[Ghulam Ali (singer)|Ghulam Ali]]; 'Ibteda' - an album of compositions by Jagjit Singh; 'The Classic Touch';<ref name=":0" /> 'Sentimental Journey'; 'The Golden Collection - All Time Greats, Vol I and II'; 'Swinging hits'; 'More hits'; 'Magic Melody'; 'Instrumental Film Hits'; 'Sunil Ganguly'; 'The Singing Guitar' - with Kazi Aniruddha; 'Encore - Electric Guitar'; 'Renaissance' - song of Kazi Nazrul Islam on the guitar; 'Khelicho E Biswa Loye' - Nazrul Geeti; 'Surer Jharna' - instrumentals of Bengali hits; and 'Tribute to Hemanta Mukherjee'.

Towards the later part of his career, Sunil Ganguly made a few albums from Concorde records and Sagarika Co. (For ex: 'Ei Sundor Swarnali Sondhay - Bengali hits like 'Jibon Khatar prati patay', 'Bhora thak Smritisudhay -[[Rabindranath Tagore|Tagore]] songs' from Sagarika, 'Instrumental Film Hits - containing hits from Betaab, Agar Tum na Hote' from Concord. His Master's Voice and other Cos, released some of his best instrumentals in the form of CD, for ex: 'Nostalgia : Ghazal Chedi Usne, Great Ghazals on guitar', 'Nostalgia : Melodies to caress your Heart 'N' Soul', 'Tumi Rabe Nirobe', 'Instrumentally Yours - Tribute to Manna Dey', 'The Best of Bollywood Instrumentals Ever' from His Master's Voice (now Saregama Ltd), 'Yaadein' (containing hits of Kishore Kumar and Md. Rafi), 'Golden greats from Yesteryears' from Sagarika.

== Personal life ==
Ganguly's son, [[Kaushik Ganguly]], became a prominent film director.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ghosal |first1=Sharmistha |title=Kaushik Ganguly and Ujaan Ganguly talk about their film Lokkhi Chhele which releases today |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/cinema/2022/aug/25/kaushik-ganguly-and-ujaan-ganguly-talk-about-their-film-lokkhi-chhele-that-releases-tomorrow-43429.html |access-date=14 September 2022 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=2022-08-25 |language=en}}</ref>

Ganguly gave music classes at his residence in [[Garia]]. He also gave music classes at several institutions in Kolkata like BaniChakra (South Kolkata) and Technique Studio (North Kolkata). Students came from far away places like [[Asansol]], [[Durgapur]], [[Odisha]], and [[Tripura]] to his classes.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

He was a follower of [[Swami Vivekananda]]. Ganguly had many disciples, many of whom took up the guitar as a profession. Sunil Ganguly Academy of Music, created at his residence, is run by Sri Aloke Ghosh, one of his disciples.<ref>{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211210/MJAMGV7FlzE| archive-date = 2021-12-10| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJAMGV7FlzE| title = Sunil Ganguly Academy of Music | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunil Ganguly Academy in Garia,Kolkata - Best Music Classes for Guitar in Kolkata |url=https://www.justdial.com/Kolkata/Sunil-Ganguly-Academy-Near-Gariaa-5-NO-Bus-Stand-Garia/033PXX33-XX33-130920092518-M8V8_BZDET |access-date=24 November 2023 |website=Justdial}}</ref> Many of his students, like Sonali Nath, Geeta Deb, Shyamal Chowdhury, and Amarnath Banik in [[Agartala]], [[Tripura]] are continuing to play and teach his style of music.
[[File:SunilGanguly_guitarist_birthday_01Jan2018.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Remembering Sunil Ganguly on his birthday 1 January 2018.]]

==Discography==
; Concord Records
* ''Instrumental Film Hits'' LP (1984) 04 0001
* ''Renaissance'' (Tunes from Najrulgeeti) LP (1984) 04 0001

; Cassettes from His Master's Voice (RPG Enterprises)
* ''Ibteda'' Ever melodious compositions of Jagjit Singh on Electric Hawaaian Guitar (1993) SPHOS 23211
* ''The Golden Collection – All Time Greats'' – Sunil Ganguly Vols 1 and 2 (1994) STHV 842607 and 842608
* ''Khelicho e biswha loye'' – Songs of Nazrul on Electric Guitar (1991) SPHOS 23129
* ''Tumi Rabe Nirobe'' – Tunes of Tagore songs on Electric Guitar (1981) SPHOS 842697
* ''Surer akashe tumi je go suktara'' (Tribute to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay) (1991) SPHOS 23137
* ''Surer Jharna'' – Bengali instrumentals on Electric Guitar (1992) SPHOS 23156

; Cassettes from Sagarika Acoustronics

* ''Ei sundar swarnali sandhyay'' – Bengali film songs on Guitar (1996) 31071
* ''Bhara thak smriti sudhai'' – Tagore songs on electric Guitar (1996) 31072

; CDs from His Master's Voice (Saregama Ltd)
* ''Nostalgia'' Melodies to caress your Heart 'N' Soul (2001) – CDF 130310
* ''Nostalgia'' Melodies to caress your Heart 'N' Soul Ghazal Chhedi Usne, Great Ghazals on Guitar(2001) – CDF 130311

; CDs from Sagarika Acoustronics
* ''Golden Greats of Yesteryears'' (1996) – C600015
* ''Yaadein'' (A tribute to Mohd. Rafi and Kishore Kumar) (1993) – MILS 012

;Digital albums
* ''Melodies Forever'' -<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaana.com/album/melody-forever|title=Melody Forever|author=|date=|work=Gaana.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''Instrumental'' - Kazi Anirudha and Sunil Ganguly<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/instrumental-kazi-aniruddha-and-sunil-ganguly_100412|title=Instrumental - Kazi Aniruddha And Sunil Ganguly by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''Puja 93'' - Sunil Ganguly<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/sunil-ganguly-puja-93_104148|title=Sunil Ganguly Puja 93 by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''Sentimental Journey'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/sentimental-journey-sunil-ganguly_103506|title=Sentimental Journey - Sunil Ganguly by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''Surer Akashe Tumi Je Go Suktara'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/surer-akashe-tumi-je-go-shuktara-sunil-ganguly_104183|title=Surer Akashe Tumi Je Go Shuktara Sunil Ganguly by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''The Classic Touch'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/the-classic-touch-sunil-ganguly_104422|title=The Classic Touch Sunil Ganguly by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''All Time Greats'' - Sunil Ganguly <ref>{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Sunil Ganguly - All Time Greats by Various Artistes |url=http://www.saregama.com/album/sunil-ganguly-all-time-greats_104145 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304035346/http://www.saregama.com/album/sunil-ganguly-all-time-greats_104145 |archive-date=4 March 2017 |access-date=20 April 2017 |work=Saregama.com}}</ref>
* ''Tumi Rabe Nirabe'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/tumi-rabe-neerabe_50139|title=Tumi Rabe Neerabe by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>
* ''Sunil Ganguly Nazrul Tunes'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saregama.com/album/sunil-ganguly-nazrul-tunes_51801|title=Sunil Ganguly Nazrul Tunes by Various Artistes|author=|date=|work=Saregama.com|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganguly, Sunil}}
[[Category:Indian guitarists]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century guitarists]]
[[Category:Musicians from West Bengal]]

Sunil Ganguly (musician) - Revision history

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