At 90-plus, Khushroo Suntook not only heads one of the oldest cultural organizations in the city, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), but is also actively involved in its day-to-day activities. He has been at the helm of action at NCPA for the last 25 years.
Coming from a family of lawyers, studying law was an organic progression for Khushroo Suntook. After completing his legal education, he took over from his father, who was one of the patron founders of the first company in India to market mineral water and bottled water. “Bisleri belonged to Khushroo Suntook and later joined Tata Sons,” he shares.
His stint with the Tatas included many roles across various companies. “I started with Lakmé. It was fun and challenging,” Suntook recalls. “Those days we were the leading brand in Eastern Europe and Russia. We even had collaborations with the Bolshoi Theatre there! One memorable promotion was—buy one lipstick and get a free ticket to the opera,” he chuckles.
From Lakmé, he moved on to TOMCO, Tata Finance, and several other companies under the Tata umbrella as a Director. “These jobs involved a lot of traveling, but I enjoyed the challenges they brought. It was JRD Tata’s vision who was the leader and driving force then. One looked forward to each day at work and the new challenges it brought.”
Dr. Jamshed Bhabha, who had his office two floors above Mr. Suntook in Bombay House, once called him and told him that his room was ready at the NCPA. “So, the transition from corporate to cultural was that easy and simple. I was just told one day that I would have to go there,” recalls Mr. Suntook.
“I was surprised when he told me that; though I admit that I shouldn’t have been. Dr. Bhabha used to regularly have discussions about music with me. Often, he picked my brains to ask whom to call at NCPA for a concert. He was a family friend and knew about my keen interest in music, especially Western Classical.”
One of Suntook’s earliest memories at NCPA was when Dr. Bhabha requested his help for the inauguration of the Tata Theatre. “Just 15 days to go and Dr. Bhabha said, ‘We have nobody to play at the inauguration…’ and I was like, ‘Ok, let me try.’ I called quite a few musicians I knew and the Scottish Orchestra agreed to come.” That was Suntook’s first contribution to NCPA.
Twenty-five years ago, under Dr. Bhabha’s insistence, Suntook joined NCPA as Vice-Chairperson and later went on to become the Chairperson. “Alyque Padamsee was the chairperson when I joined. He said – ‘We have to teach you to run a cultural organisation.’ And I said, ‘Yes’! That was it!”
A keen follower of Western classical music since the age of two, Mr. Suntook was solely responsible for kick-starting the Symphony of India Orchestra. “I would say I helped put it together,” he says modestly.
The initiative began when Dr. Bhabha built the Opera House on one of the open plots in the campus. Initially, he wanted to call it the National Opera House, but Suntook insisted, “You have done the hard work, you have put in the money, we will name it after you.” Dr. Bhabha gave in to his persistence, and the venue was named the Jamshed Bhabha Opera Theatre.
A group from Kazakhstan opened the theatre with a performance by the Almatti Symphony Orchestra. Legendary conductor Zubin Mehta has also performed there multiple times. The response to these world-class orchestras performing in Mumbai was overwhelming.
“That kind of put a bee in my bonnet,” admits Suntook. “My mind was buzzing after I saw the response. I spoke to Dr. Bhabha about starting our own orchestra, and he gave me a free hand in creating it. It was my friend Marat Bisengaliev who helped me make it happen.”
Marat Bisengaliev was instrumental in creating the Symphony of India. “He is a great friend. He helped identify talent across the country and the globe to put together the first orchestra,” Suntook explains. “So often he would just go ‘niet, niet, niet!’—meaning no, no, no—after auditions because he didn’t find the right person to play the cello. Most of the initial players were from abroad, not Indians.”
This experience triggered a shift in vision. Suntook decided it was high time they trained their own talent to create a homegrown orchestra. Thus, The SOI Music Academy was launched in 2012 to offer an advanced level of music training, previously unavailable in India, to talented young children.
Under the supervision of SOI Music Director Marat Bisengaliev, students receive a holistic music education inspired by the Russian Conservatoire method. Today, the academy has 67 students and 25 teachers—22 from Kazakhstan and three Indian.
The students not only perform in India but also internationally—in Russia, Kazakhstan, the UK, and more. “We also have workshops for school children to introduce them to the world of good Western Classical music,” informs Suntook.
While it may seem that his fondness for Western classical music has led him to promote only that at NCPA, that’s not true. Suntook is also responsible for starting the Marathi and Gujarati theatre festivals at the center, which promote new talent.
“The Marathi theatre fest showcases talent curated from workshops we conduct. We also have dance festivals, a Sufi festival, and much more. The idea is to give the audience a slice of everything this country has to offer from its rich cultural heritage,” he shares.
When asked about the secret behind his energy at 90, Suntook remarked, “Well, I don’t think I’ve got good health, but I suppose I can’t complain at my age. I believe in what one of my revered friends and doctors told me—that if you stop working, you will get ill. So, it’s working on a regular basis that keeps me going.”
**Favourite Things:**
– Movie: *My Fair Lady*
– Food: Italian
– Music Vocalist: Enrico Caruso
https://www.freepressjournal.in/weekend/work-keeps-me-going-khushroo-suntook-at-90-reflects-on-25-years-at-ncpa