O Shakuntala!

Released in 2009 by Riverboat Records, O Shakuntala! is a sophisticated exploration of Indian slide guitar, a field revolutionized by the virtuoso Debashish Bhattacharya. The album draws its title from the ancient Sanskrit play Shakuntala, grounding the music in a deep sense of classical Indian tradition while showcasing Bhattacharya's own invention, the chaturangui, a twenty-two stringed instrument that blends elements of the sitar, sarod, and veena.

Bhattacharya crafted this work to bridge the gap between traditional ragas and a more contemporary acoustic soundscape. By integrating complex rhythms and fluid melodic improvisation, he sought to make the intricate nuances of Indian classical music accessible to a global audience. Upon its release, the album was widely praised by world music critics for its technical precision and the emotive, resonant clarity of the chaturangui's unique tonal character.