Sourojit Dutta is all of 12 years now. But as a musical talent, he has achieved a rare feat not many of his age could dream of. According to Best of India Records, a noted registry of records based in Delhi, he is now the youngest Indian to clear the Associate of Trinity College, London (ATCL) test, a level 4 diploma in musical performance conducted by Trinity College, London.
Presently residing in Kolenchery, Sourojit achieved the feat by giving a 34-minute-long recital, including pieces of musical maestros like Beethoven and Frederick Chopin. It was evaluated by two experts from Trinity College, London. He gave the performance at Classic Players Music Academy in Kolenchery on September 29. He has since been included in the Best of India Records.
The fact that he achieved it in less than half the required time duration of five years would be little surprise to those who personally know Sourojit. Now studying in class six, Sourojit started playing piano at the age of 6 and had joined the academy only two years ago.
Sourojit's father Sumit Dutta is a doctor who is fond of music and painting. Despite his stint as the head of community medicine at the Kolenchery Medical Mission Hospital, Sumit Dutta finds time to research Hindustani Music and Music Therapy. Sumit hails from East Midnapur in West Bengal.
"Sourajit has been showing interest in music, especially the piano, since his early childhood. But as time went by we found something unusual about his talent. Coupled with the dedication he emerged as a musical prodigy and acquired the ATCL diploma to become the youngest Indian to do so," Sumit, who is an art and music enthusiast himself, says.
For Sourojit it's "the beauty of the harmonic chords" that excites his musical senses the most. “Compositions of Bethoven and Chopin are my favourites," says the young maestro.
Anil K Cherian, Sourojit's piano teacher, is all praises about the young talent. "He was a casual 9-year-old kid when he joined my music academy. But soon, we were witnessing his exponential rise as a musical genius. His intensive dedication complimented by the lockdown made him learn in six months what regular music students achieve in five years," he says.
"What is so exceptional about him is that he learns any classical pieces within no time and plays them perfectly well," Anil, who has his own music establishment, Classic Players Academy of Music and Fine Arts in Kerala in India and in New Zealand.
Western classical music is Sourojit's forte and is in love with the compositions of legendary musicians like Beethoven, Mozart Chopin and Schubert.
He practices six hours a day and during lockdown he pursued the classes online.
Sourojit is now working hard to progress to the next level for the Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) exam next month. His instructor Anil K. Cheriyan is fully confident about his ward's abilities.
Sourojit's elder sister, Priyadarshini, a Class eight student, learns violin while his mother Suparna Dutta is a philosophy teacher.
Sourojit has composed 20 odd classical pieces so far and dreams to become a consultant pianist in the future.
