Star Chat

Destiny's Child

Musician Khayam Sanu Sandhi
Talks to
Sameeha Suraiya

courtesy : khayam sanu sandhi

An average student, with the best of friends and always in the company of soaring musical notes -- yes, that would best summarise my years at school. Those intense rounds of cricket after classes, which would most often involve in breaking a window or two, also make it to the list. Of course, everything was not always rosy; there would be days when I would have to drag myself to school. The fear of punishment would most often be the reason. There was this one time when my hair had grown a little too long. My teacher at the Khilgaon Government School instructed me in a stern voice, that if I came to school the next day without a haircut, a punishment is what I would have on my plate. Having totally forgotten to act upon the urgency of a haircut, I woke up that morning pleading with my father to let me drop that day of school. Little did I know what awaited me, because in a minute, my father was playing his self-assigned role of my hair stylist The hair cuts he would give me are of course, an entirely different story; let's just say, I avoided telling my friends where I got my hair cuts from!

Music accompanied me before I had begun school. My earliest training took place at my father's music school, Anondom Shongeetangon, and my first stage performance came through when I was two and a half years old. From then on, Notun Kuri happened, where I came second, and a few national awards also made their way. From classical to Rabindra Sangeet, and from then on to having my own band, music and studies were what I mostly juggled. It never was a problem because in my leisure time, music was what I found solace in; my father and my siblings are all singers in their own right, and music was another loyal friend at home.

One special memory from school was going to Japan for the Asian-Pacific Children Convention when I was in class 6, studying at the National Bank Public School. There were students taking part from 50 countries. I remember the response we drew on stage as we put on a group performance, representing Bangladesh. It was a proud moment, for sure.

It was during college (Classes 11 and 12) that I began to experiment with music and sing it the way I wanted to. The band 'Mohakaal' formed during my years at Rifles Public. Our big break came when a few seniors from BUET invited us to perform at one of their cultural events. It was that performance that put a seal, confirming our band's popularity, which to say the least, astounded us. To see the crowd sing along to the words that we wrote was humbling. College was also a lot about bunking classes. Being the college Culture Captain, teachers chose to turn a blind eye, and I happily held on to my licence of skipping classes. I guess, being an active participant at school or college events does earn you some privilege! College was also the time when I fell in love, but like most 'love affairs' of that certain age, my star struck moments ended as abruptly as they had begun.

Now a student of BBA at Stamford University, I continue to make music while dealing with text books. I spent my first year at university earning a degree in Nazrul Geeti in Kolkata. The experience was soul enriching, and I truly feel thankful for having the chance of walking down that road of studying and attempting the creations of the rebel genius.

I was lucky to have found my aim pretty early in life, and that was because I had the liberty to give importance to music the same way I was expected to treat academics. The trick is to do what you truly love doing, and you are set to seize the world!